Australian Aboriginal Art in Singapore
Singapore, a vibrant city-state known for its impressive skyline, lush green spaces, and a thriving art scene, welcomes art enthusiasts to explore the unique and captivating world of Australian Aboriginal Art. Much like the stunning and diverse displays at the National Gallery Singapore or the innovative installations at the Singapore Art Museum, Australian Aboriginal Art offers a rich tapestry of stories, traditions, and visual splendour. This guide is designed to lead you through a curated selection of local galleries in Singapore where this fascinating art is showcased and appreciated.
The city's cosmopolitan nature and its commitment to cultural diversity make Singapore an ideal locale for delving into the ancient yet ever-evolving narrative of Australian Aboriginal Art. With a backdrop of iconic landmarks such as the Merlion and the Marina Bay Sands, the galleries featured in this guide provide a serene and thoughtful space to engage with Aboriginal art and understand its significance. These venues mirror the city’s own blend of tradition and innovation, offering a platform for these powerful stories and artworks to be experienced and celebrated.
From the bustling arts district to more intimate gallery spaces scattered across the city, these establishments act as cultural conduits, deepening the appreciation for Australian Aboriginal Art. Embark on this artistic journey with us, as we navigate through the city’s top galleries to uncovering the vibrant heritage and profound stories embedded in Australian Aboriginal Art.
Galleries in Singapore featuring Australian Aboriginal Art
National Gallery Singapore
The National Gallery Singapore is a leading art institution in the Civic District of Singapore, showcasing a vast collection of over 9,000 Singaporean and Southeast Asian artworks. Housed in two historic buildings, it is the largest visual arts venue in Singapore and attracts nearly two million visitors yearly. The Gallery focuses on modern and contemporary art, featuring two permanent galleries and a diverse collection that spans from early 20th-century paintings to contemporary installations. Notably, in 2022, it hosted the significant “Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia” exhibition, highlighting contemporary Indigenous Australian art.
Image: National Gallery Singapore
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ReDot Fine Art Gallery
The REDOT Fine Art Gallery in Singapore, established in 2004, is a unique venue dedicated to Australian Indigenous art. It features a diverse collection from both emerging and renowned artists, with pieces sourced from community-based art centres across Australia. The gallery ensures authenticity and supports cultural practices through its partnerships.
Image: Ngaminya by Nancy Nungurray. Image Via ReDot Fine Art Gallery
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Yavuz Gallery
Yavuz Gallery in Singapore, established in 2010, is renowned for promoting intercultural dialogue through contemporary art. It features a diverse array of artists and is known for its strong curatorial program that focuses on the social significance of artworks. Notable among its exhibitions is “Vincent Namatjira OAM Desert Songs,” showcasing Australian Aboriginal art. The gallery’s approach to blending aesthetic value with meaningful messages has made it a significant destination in the international art scene.
Image: Yavuz Gallery
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.