The Australian Aboriginal tradition of seeing the countryside and outback land as symbolic expressions of the dreamtime and creation has culminated in a vibrant art form, not only their paintings but also the telling of the stories about the dreaming.Generally the artists come from small isolated communities which have little or nothing to do with the outside world.
As a photographic
enthusiast the opportunity to work closely inside that kind
of community is a hard earned privilage. The aboriginal people have a
culture
and history of helping and welcoming strangers, but you must observe
and respect
their cultural sensitivities. The elders say that they are the masters
of their
hunger and no amount of coercion or money will see you involved with
their people
in a close and revealing way, preferring to stay aloof and keep their
insights
to their beliefs to themselves.
To be an artist is to be a story teller, whether or not it's in protest form, for commercial reasons or an expression of spirit and beauty. It's external expression of an internal dimension. A lot of art wants for interpretation, some pieces are what the observer feels as he looks upon the piece and witnesses the artists inner expression.
Animals in their area play an important role in stories and artworks of the aboriginal artist. For example the goanna can be a major inspiration in his paintings. The texture and patterns of its skin find their way to the dot painting techniques favoured by the artists of the desert.
Central Australia right after sunset is called the magic hour in the Australian desert. The colours come out from the surrounding landscapes, giving rich hues and a strong warming to tempt artists and photographers of all persuasion.
40,000, plus years of aboriginal art adorns itself on the cathedrals of the desert, presevered only by the dryness of the Australian outback. Through dance, song and art the people take on the characteristics of the ancestors. The dreamtime continues in their lives and its with this association of respect and oneness with their surrounds helps with the spiritualality of their artworks.