AMAZING

Left: Banduk Marika

Right: Kath Walker

WEAVING

[Lennah Newson, River Reed Basket 4, 2002, source: Tactillity]

The intricacy and detail in the Indigenous weavings are probably my favourite art form that has come from their culture. I love the fact that they have a function, that is carried through perfectly, but also the form which is so delicate while being so beautiful.

[hot air balloon, Yvonne Koolmatrie 2006]

Yvonne Koolmatrie, from South Australia, is dedicated to keeping the art of the Narrindjerri weaving alive, using contemporary themes combined with the ancient practice. Her weavings are beautifully executed, but add elements that people in todays culture may possibly enjoy more than a simple basket. In my opinion, I enjoy the baskets and fish catchers etc more, but I do understand that to capture an audience today, sometimes you may need to change the way that you attract people with other elements. 
 

WHAT IS ART?

Today in class we had a bit of a discussion about what art actually is. People struggled to come up with answer, which I thought was quite interesting.

I think that if you asked someone who didn’t have much interest in the creative world, they would just give a generic response like “painting” or “drawing”. But like what happened in class, if you ask someone who is actually concerned with the topic, it can be quite hard to answer.

The example we were shown was something that many would not understand as art. I do not necessarily understand what drove the artist to present a box standing on a table as art, but I understand that it was to prove a point and to me that creates it as art. My thoughts (that are still roughly forming), is that art is a transfer of information and opinion to a visual space. The product is something that is seen rather than communicated through words and text. For instance, take a portrait from the renaissance period. The image is of a person, where you are seeing their face, stance and character rather than hearing a person describe them. In terms of the piece that was shown at the Venice Biennale, the box on the table was displaying the thought visually that “painting is dead”. Instead of some important person telling a crowd that painting is dead (which could be quite controversial), the artist has laid it out as a visual, which provokes a lot more thought, and I feel that it makes the point quite a lot stronger. 

Art is obviously going to be described differently in every persons mind, and I think that is why it draws us in so much. Because it has been presented visually, it can be taken in a million different ways.

My answer to the question is quite obviously still very scattered, but I love hearing what other people’s opinions are!

GORDON HOOKEY + LAURIE NILSEN

Im not quite sure what to think of this picture, but it is very intriguiging.

I'd say that the kangaroo is representing the Indigenous in the image, with character and cool. While the whites are just monotonously moving without life and soul.

But I don't know what else to read into this? 

LAURIE NIELSON

I love this sculpture. I think what fascinates me is that its almost a 2D form, but it is still clearly recognisable as an animal. When I first looked at it, it didn't say anything about indigenous culture to me, but then I looked at the materials listed and it said "found steel".

I think, as I first looked at it, it looked just perfectly nice and modern to me. It would sit nicely on a stark clean wall in a modern apartment in the city. 

But then I saw "found" steel. I think the fact that the steel has been sourced by searching brought the piece to a new level for me.

Laurie has been creative in his approach to this sculpture. He has gone and found these pieces, searched, and found to create. I love the rawness of that thought. And I like the piece a whole lot more for it.

ICONOGRAPHY

Iconography is such an integral part to every cultures workings.

I find it so interesting that in the lives of Aboriginals, their symbols and marks are so strong and used so widely. While our western culture has important symbols, they are not held with such a high regard, as they are with indigenous australians.

When I look through their paintings, especially their dot paintings, it is clear to see many of these symbols showing up throughout the works. Especially the rings used to signify campsites and also the "U" shapes which represent people. 

They are beautiful symbols! And I love the simplicity of them.

GREAT EXPLORERS

Christopher Allen

(In the weekend Australian, August 27-28 2011)

What I found very intriguing in this article was the talk about who is better off in life. The natives, whilst not forward in the ages, having such spirituality and clean morals, or the modern westerner, who has the luxuries of life and the land they desire.

“I am as free as nature first made man,

Ere the base laws of servitude began,

When wild in woods the noble savage ran”

The Conquest of Granada (Dryden 1670)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Essay 1753

Discours sur les sciences et les arts

Rousseau “denied that progress in the arts and sciences had made civilised peoples morally better than primitive ones. On the contrary, moderns were more likely to be enfeebled and corrupted by their physical and social environment.”

Quote by Cook (I think)

“The Natives of New Holland in a Tranquillity which is not disturb’d by the Inequality of Condition: the Earth and sea of their own accord furnish them with all things necessary for Life”.

Article Quote

“It became widely assumed, even by sympathetic observers, that the Aborigines were a race doomed to extinction”

I found the article quite interesting. I didn't pay much attention to the talk of art pieces in it, but more to the small quotes and poems listed above. I don't understand how as caucasians in this country, that we have made ourselves seem better off than the Indigenous. 

From teachings and conversations and news stories throughout my life, all I have really been shown of the Indigenous culture is the bad things. Like the poorest families, the petrol sniffing, and the unfortunate parts of their lives. It is so hypocritical of us, as people who have come onto this land, to be so oblivious to the fact that our culture is the same, if even worse. Its only because the Indigenous have become the minority that they have been put in the publics eyes in such a way. Yes, it is true that some of the lifestyle choices are not good and should be fixed, but I don't agree with the fact that they have been shown to so many people in such a negative light when our culture is exactly the same.

I wish that when I was learning about their culture, that our lessons had been more of a celebration of their history and beautiful culture, rather than the problems that need to be fixed. I think that is why i am enjoying this course, because I am finally getting the opportunity to begin to appreciate, rather than to be concerned.