Aboriginalities

Aboriginalities immerses visitors in the fascinating world of Aboriginal painting, an art form that is both ancestral and contemporary, rooted in spirituality. It tells the story of Dreamtime and the original link between humans and the earth, passed down from generation to generation. In the early 1970s, the Papunya Tula community translated their cultural practices and symbolic knowledge through paint, using non-traditional methods borrowed from Western culture. The exhibition features over 120 paintings and objects, reflecting the extraordinary formal inventiveness of Aboriginal artists.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2022
Publisher: BAI NV

Aboriginal painting is a captivating art form that blends ancestral traditions with contemporary influences,always rooted in spirituality. It transcends a mere physical and sensory experience,inviting us to reevaluate our connection to the earth and the universe. As a window into the spiritual realm,Aboriginal art narrates the story of the world's creation,known as Dreamtime,and the original bond between humans and the earth. The intricate motifs,such as dotted lines,spirals,zigzags,and crosshatching,are passed down from generation to generation within the same community,revealing centuries-old secrets and mapping their ancestral territories. This ancient and highly symbolic art form was once concealed,drawn in the sand or applied on rocks in forbidden areas. However,in the early 1970s, amidst the fight for Aboriginal identity recognition,the Papunya Tula community embraced painting as a means to express their cultural practices and symbolic knowledge. Using non-traditional materials like acrylics,brushes,cardboard,and later canvas,they found a modern way to communicate their cultural,political,social,and economic struggles.

The vibrant and colorful exhibition "Aboriginalities" is curated by Marie Philippson,a passionate collector of modern culture and Aboriginal art for over two decades. It showcases over 120 paintings and objects, highlighting the extraordinary formal inventiveness of Aboriginal artists. Throughout the exhibition, a dozen works from the RMFAB's modern art collection resonate with the themes explored by these Dreamtime artists,challenging our perception of the visible world.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 217 x 260 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789077013311