domingo, 17 de enero de 2010

Contemporary Aboriginal Art (AUSTRALIA)


It has been a long period of time since Geoffrey Bardon started his contribution to art in the forlorn resettlement community of Papunya, which was the beginning of the Contemporary Aboriginal Art. Nowadays, there are almost sixty Aboriginal Art Cooperatives, whose have organized, becoming a big source of incomes and the most prestigious way of Australian contemporary Art. Its particular style, using geometrical shapes in earth tones, curved lines and circles, has attracted a lot of collectors, whose have felt surprised about the rich culture behind every peace of work.
Current researches have allowed us to divide the development of Contemporary Aboriginal Art in four periods. The first one was characterized by a controversial debate among some community members about the secret rituals, whose were prohibited for woman and uninitiated boys. The second period was focus on traditional ritual practice just like agriculture and also, nature. The next period had its main source of incomes in the large-scale canvases. The last one, which goes until now, has included lower-quality commercial paintings, perhaps there are still many high quality works based on the old style. Also, one of the most radical changes is that woman are allowed to work on it.
So far, despite those specialists about Aboriginal Art, there are still many collectors who can’t define a well-executed work of this art or understand its meaning.


As far as I know, the Contemporary Aboriginal Art has been admired and studied by lots of artist, anthropologist and in general people who enjoy following the new “tendencies” of art. Moreover, Aboriginal people have done from their culture, a kind of well-paid work, which has allowed them to expand their culture while gaining some money.
Nevertheless, the most important lesson here is to respect native communities by trying to let them a reasonable space for their development as a culture. Otherwise, we would destroy their values and believes, which could produce resentment and rejection from these people to ways of civilization. Therefore, without respect and understanding we are not going to have the feedback we need between ancient cultures and our current establishment in order to get the productions of researchers and knowledge.