Australian Aboriginal Art in Spain
Spain, with its rich tapestry of art and culture, embraces Australian Aboriginal Art's profound storytelling and vibrant visuals. This guide aims to lead art enthusiasts to local galleries and venues where the unique language of Australian Aboriginal Art is celebrated. These spaces provide an invaluable opportunity for Spaniards and international visitors to engage with an ancient art form that speaks to universal themes of connection to land and community.
From the lively art scene in Barcelona, echoing the creativity found in the whimsical architecture of Gaudí, to more intimate galleries in cities like Seville or Valencia, these venues offer diverse environments for exploring Australian Aboriginal Art. They function as cultural connectors, similar to the role of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, bridging the gap between Spain's rich artistic heritage and the millennia-old traditions of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. Against a backdrop of historic sites and modern artistic endeavours, these establishments provide a unique platform for appreciating and understanding Aboriginal art.
The galleries and spaces highlighted in this guide have made concerted efforts to forge respectful and authentic relationships with Australian Indigenous communities, ensuring that the art is presented with the respect and integrity it deserves. Whether delving into the bustling art districts of Madrid, or seeking artistic inspiration along the serene Mediterranean coast, these venues offer access to the captivating world of Australian Aboriginal Art. Join us on this artistic journey through Spain, as we unveil the best places to connect with the ancient stories, vibrant colours, and intricate patterns of one of the world’s oldest living cultures.
Galleries in Spain featuring Australian Aboriginal Art
ARCOmadrid
ARCOmadrid, a leading contemporary art fair, occasionally features exhibitions of Australian Aboriginal art, showcasing the fair’s commitment to diversity and cultural exchange. Known for its focus on modern and contemporary art, ARCOmadrid offers a platform for various artistic expressions, including the unique and ancient traditions of Aboriginal art. These special showcases enrich the fair’s international appeal, making it a significant event for art enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Image: ARCOmadrid
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Centro Cultural Nicolás Salmerón
Centro Cultural Nicolás Salmerón is a vibrant cultural center located in Madrid, Spain, dedicated to promoting the arts and cultural diversity. The centre hosts a wide range of cultural events and has exhibited works by Australian Aboriginal artists so it’s recommended to check their current program.
Image: Purpla by Dadda Samson. Image via National Museum of Australia
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Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado Museum)
The Museo Nacional del Prado, a world-renowned art museum in Madrid, is celebrated for its extensive collection of European art, with occasional forays into showcasing global art forms, including potential exhibitions of Australian Aboriginal art. These rare showcases would offer visitors a unique perspective on global artistic traditions, contrasting with the museum’s traditional European focus. The Prado’s engagement with diverse art forms, including Aboriginal art, highlights its role as a leading cultural institution and its commitment to the universality of artistic expression.
Image: Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado Museum)
ViewWhat is Aboriginal art?
Aboriginal art is part of the culture of Australian Aboriginal people who have lived on the Australian continent for over 50,000 years. They represent the longest continuous culture to be found anywhere on earth. Examples of Aboriginal art are found in caves and rock shelters, and the oldest of these have been dated back at least 18,000 years.
When did Aboriginal art start / how old is Aboriginal art?
Aboriginal art is part of the oldest continuous living culture in world history, with Australian Aboriginal people having settled on the Australian continent somewhere between 60,000 and 80,000 years ago. Evidence of Aboriginal culture is found in the rock art, which so far has been dated back at least 20,000 years, while archaeology has dated ancient campsites back to 50,000 to 65,000 years. Contemporary Aboriginal art is considered to start at the desert community of Papunya in 1971, when senior desert men began to paint their cultural stories using modern materials. This was prompted by school teacher Geoffrey Bardon requesting that school children paint their own stories, leading the senior men to open up their deeply held cultural knowledge to outside observers. The Papunya Tula desert art movement then influenced other communities to join the art movement through the following decades.
Where did Aboriginal art come from?
Australian Aboriginal people had two traditional forms of communication. These were oral storytelling and song as well as visual communication through drawing, painting and the use of ceremonial design. There was no written language, however for many survival depended on the ability to remember where food and water sources could be found at different times of the year. Aboriginal artists often paint maps of Country showing important landmarks. They often use an aerial perspective even when they have never been in a plane.
What is “Dreaming” (or “Dreamtime”) in Aboriginal art?
At the heart of Aboriginal culture and therefore of Aboriginal art, is the Creation law set down in the Dreaming, which provides the identity for traditional Aboriginal people and their connection to the land. Dreamtime is one translation of the Creation time for Aboriginal people, other terms often seen are Jukurrpa and Tingari - the term used varies according to the particular local language. Many Aboriginal artists paint aspects of their Dreaming, which forms part of their inheritance and their identity.
Read More: Aboriginal Art and the Dreamtime
Can I learn about specific Dreaming stories (e.g., Seven Sisters, Water Dreaming)?
Yes, Japingka’s guides cover stories like Seven Sisters (Pleiades) and Water Dreaming, explaining cultural context and how artists depict them.
Read More: Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories
What is dot painting and where did it come from?
Australian Aboriginal dot paintings are typical of a style of art works from the Central and Western Desert. They are a medium for telling stories and enlivening culture.
Read More: Aboriginal Dot Painting
Japingka Gallery ships Aboriginal artworks worldwide. View artwork collections.