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To Aboriginal people art is linked to land, history and identity," writes Howard Morphy (p. 37).
In an earlier era assimilation policies suppressed Aboriginal identity. Aborigines were expected to adopt the values and ideals of white Australians. Hence the watercolour landscapes of Albert Namatjira, the first Aboriginal artist to exhibit professionally, were celebrated as a symbol of his successful assimilation. With the civil rights movement of the late 1960s came empowerment and a new pride in cultural identity. Contemporary Aboriginal identities are mobile, multi-faceted and hybrid, positioned at the intersection of culture and colonisation.
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Themes
Each of the three themes within this module explore various aspects of Indigenous identity:
• Politics
The politics of Aboriginal art inside and outside Aboriginal communities;
• Diversity
The diversity of Aborigines' experiences in remote, rural and 'urban' settings;
• Histories
The significance of 'hidden histories'.
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View the contents of this module in a table.
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Get a list of referenced readings and website urls for this module.
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