Aboriginal Art In Perth
Nestled on the Western Australian coast, Perth offers a unique window into the world of Australian Aboriginal Art, showcasing an array of galleries rich in Indigenous culture and heritage. This guide spotlights Perth’s finest venues, from the acclaimed Art Gallery of Western Australia to smaller, specialized galleries, where the vibrant and profound artistry of Australia’s First Peoples is celebrated. Residents and visitors alike are invited to delve into these local hubs of creativity, where the ancient traditions and contemporary expressions of Aboriginal art come alive, reflecting the diverse and storied landscape of Australia itself.
Berndt Museum
The Berndt Museum, nestled within the University of Western Australia, is a revered institution specialising in Australian Aboriginal art. It boasts an extensive collection that spans traditional and contemporary artworks, reflecting the diversity and evolution of Indigenous artistic expressions. The museum is celebrated for its in-depth exploration of Aboriginal culture and heritage, offering a rich blend of historical artefacts and modern art. Its special exhibitions and collaborations highlight the museum’s commitment to education and appreciation of Aboriginal art, making it a crucial platform for understanding and celebrating Indigenous Australian culture.
Image: Possum Dreaming at Tutanya by Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi. Image Via Berndt Museum.
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Japingka Gallery
Japingka Aboriginal Art is a specialist Aboriginal art gallery in Perth, Western Australia with a wide selection of over 3,500 Aboriginal artworks. Artworks are ethically sourced, and Japingka Aboriginal Art is an active member of both Aboriginal Art Association of Australia and the Australian Federal Government’s Indigenous Art Code.
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John Curtin Gallery
The John Curtin Gallery, located at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, stands as a pivotal institution in the Australian art scene, blending historical and contemporary artworks. Its extensive collection reflects Australia’s artistic evolution, with a significant emphasis on both local and global contemporary art. The gallery is particularly notable for its commitment to Australian Aboriginal Art, offering insightful exhibitions that present the richness of Aboriginal cultures and histories. This focus not only enriches the Australian art narrative but also serves as an educational and emotive journey for its visitors.
Image: John Curtin Gallery
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The Art Gallery of Western Australia
The Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth is a prominent institution, renowned for its blend of historical and contemporary art. With a collection that includes both Australian and international works, the gallery offers a comprehensive view of the artistic evolution from the 19th century to the present. Its commitment to contemporary art and support for emerging artists highlight its dynamic nature. Particularly notable is the gallery’s focus on Australian Aboriginal Art, which provides valuable insights into Indigenous cultures and artistic expressions, making it a key destination for understanding and appreciating the diversity and depth of Australian art.
Image: The Art Gallery of Western Australia
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WA Museum Boola Bardip
The WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth is a renowned cultural institution, celebrated for its extensive collections that span from historical artifacts to contemporary art, with a special emphasis on Australian Aboriginal Art. The museum’s approach to storytelling, through a blend of traditional and modern exhibits, offers a comprehensive view of Western Australia’s rich cultural heritage. Its focus on Aboriginal art not only showcases the unique beauty of Indigenous artwork but also serves as an educational and enriching experience, highlighting the museum’s role as a bridge between the past and the present, and between different cultures.
Image: WA Museum Boola Bardip
VisitWhat 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.
Countries
Galleries in Australia