|
During this introductory course on contemporary Australian Indigenous art we have looked at four key areas:
- Issues of Aboriginality and representations of Aboriginality;
- The foundational beliefs and values of Indigenous society;
- The diversity of contemporary Australian Indigenous art that takes into account: regional styles, historical experiences and the range of individual artists;
- The creation of value for Australian Indigenous art and its place in a global art world.
Indigenous people are aware of the radical changes that have occurred since the 1970s. Torres Strait Islander artist Ellen Jose believes:
Times have changed. The time when we were forced to live in the margins of society are receding, the time when we were not encouraged to speak our languages and express our culture are fading. Torres Strait Islanders are proudly rediscovering their past. The silent generations are being replaced by a vocal people who want to reclaim their identity. My story is one of thousands. Every story that is told helps to break an enforced collective amnesia, the legacy of a colonisation process that attempted to remould Torres Strait identity and culture into the image of the coloniser.
Ellen Jose, 1998, "Cultural Identity," in Ilan Pasin (This is Our Way) Torres Strait Art , (eds.), Tom Mosby and Brian Robinson, Cains Regional Gallery, Cairns, pp. 143-145, p. 145. |
|
|
|
| |
The way ahead
What do Indigenous people want for the future?
|
|
|
|
Yunupingu: Respecting difference
Manduway Yunupingu is the leader of the rock group Yothu Yindi. With his brother Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Manduway Yunupingu is a founder of the Garma Cultural Studies Institute near Yirrkala. Garma is the first Indigenous cultural knowledge centre to be established in Australia. Manduway Yunupingu emphasises the need for a "balance in knowledge" that incorporates respect for Yolngu culture "with our ceremonial life, with our sacred objects, with our land". |
|
|
|
|
Foley: The natives are restless...
Badtjala artist Fiona Foley from Fraser Island in Queensland, writes about her contemporary life "living in the mainstream", crossing international borders to engage in dialogue with other artists. At the same time, Foley, like other Indigenous artists, continues to act as a spokesperson for her people on many issues: native title, land management, cultural tourism and health. |
|
|
| |
Assignment 4
For Assignment 4 read the list of essay topics carefully. Begin your research by selecting a topic and reviewing the relevant readings in Learnline. It will help to write an essay plan. You may wish to expand your reading by referring to the Additional Readings listed in the Unit Information and on Learnline. These texts are avaialble in the Charles Darwin University Library. For additional assistance with essay writing refer to the Art & Design Style Guide.
See your Unit Information or view Assessments in Learnline for details of the task, marking criteria and due date. |
|
|
| |
This is the final section of the AHT213 course. We hope that you enjoyed the course and it expanded your understanding about contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
A second online unit AHT214 Aboriginal Art in Northern Australia will be available in semester 2, 2005. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
:: 
:: 
:: 
