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A Fresh Look at Teaching Aboriginal Culture & Art
It was exciting this week to see the Amercian teacher website, The Art of Education, publish an insightful piece about Aboriginal art. In her article, Aboriginal Art: Revisited, Researched, and Revamped!, writer Lindsey Moss makes the observation that visual art teachers in North America are interested in the area of Aboriginal art. She challenges her…
Walk Through: Spinifex Arts Project 20th Anniversary Exhibition at Japingka Gallery
Amanda Dent, Project Manager for the Spinifex Arts Project, discusses the paintings that form the 20th Anniversary exhibition at Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery. Wati Ngintaka by Patju Presley Patju Presley is a new artist to Spinifex. We used to work with him twenty years ago at Wingellina – he was one of the founding Anangu…
What is the Connection Between the Dreamtime and Songlines?
The Dreaming is the description of a sacred time that saw the creation of the world as Aboriginal people know it and understand it. Dreamtime is the word used in the English language, but there are many words across the Aboriginal languages, including Tjukurrpa and Ngarrangkarni. Both words mean a sacred time when the world…
Did Aboriginal Artists Use Western Art Traditions to Preserve Culture?
We were recently asked did the contemporary Aboriginal art movement start as a way to meld Western art tradition with Aboriginal culture, for the preservation of that culture? I think the answer is no. I think it’s probably the opposite of that. I think the impetus that started the movement came when the school teacher…
Did Contemporary Aboriginal Art Really Start in the 1970s?
We’ve had some correspondence from an art teacher in the United States. She was wanting to clarify a few points about Aboriginal art and we’ve decided to share the questions and our answers. Her first question focused on when contemporary art started. Contemporary Aboriginal painting really established its roots in the 1970s. Like all accounts…
New Samsung “The Frame” TV Takes Aboriginal Art To The World
Sarrita King is the only Australian artist represented in the art collection released as part of the new Samsung The Frame television. This television turns into a high-quality digital art display when not in use. The Frame includes access to 100 pieces of art, curated from 37 international artists and designers. The TV has already…
Symbolism in Aboriginal Art – Thoughts From Sarrita King
Sarrita King is a well-established Australian artist. Here she talks about recent questions she has had about Aboriginal art symbols, and whether symbols are linked across cultures and universal or more specific to a cultural group. She discusses the origin and meaning of some of the symbols that she and her sister Tarisse King use…
The Art of Connection – Interviews with Australian Aboriginal Artists
Many people think that all Australian Aboriginal art is the dot style of painting. They might also believe that all Aboriginal artists are older people who live in the desert. They may not not realise that Aboriginal art is extraordinary in its diversity and so too are the artists who create it. This is a…
Large Wall Art By Damien & Yilpi Marks
Where do you find large wall art for spaces like the foyers of contemporary buildings? It’s the type of art that will sit well with neutral interiors. It is larger scale art with a warm focus that adds life and energy to a room. The latest works by husband and wife team Damien and Yilpi Marks…
New Indigenous Textiles – The Next Wave
Ian Plunkett reflects on the 2017 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) in Darwin and the excitement around the re-emergence of Indigenous textiles. You couldn’t attend this year’s Aboriginal Art Fair without noticing the growing excitement around Indigenous textiles. The colours and textures of fabric and clothing created a fresh energy and vibrancy to the Art…
2017 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards
Japingka Aboriginal Art’s Ian Plunkett reflects on the 34TH TELSTRA National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) This is Australia’s longest running and the most prestigious Indigenous art award. It aims to recognise the important contribution made by Indigenous artists from regional and urban areas throughout Australia. It includes works in traditional and…
Tjunguṉutja – The Stunning Papunya Exhibition
Ian Plunkett reflects on the exhibition of early Papunya works on display in Darwin. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory have put together an extraordinary exhibition of paintings from the early works from Papunya. It is called Tjungunutja which means “having come together”. This is a seminal exhibition. I hope that it tours nationally – it…
Kimberley Rock Art – A New Way of Working Together
Professor Peter Veth of the University of WA leads the Kimberley Visions project, involving comparative archaeological documentation and dating of early rock art repertoires from across the Kimberley and western Arnhem Land in northern Australia. In this article, Peter discusses some of the organisations that are contributing to this work and the type of technologies they…
Kimberley Rock Art – Research In Partnership With Traditional Owners
By: David Wroth, Japingka Gallery and Peter Veth, University of Western Australia, 2016 Professor Peter Veth of the University of WA leads the Kimberley Visions project, involving comparative archaeological documentation and dating of early rock art repertoires from across the Kimberley and western Arnhem Land in northern Australia. In this interview, Peter describes his work with local…
Kimberley Rock Art – How Meanings Change
Professor Peter Veth of the University of WA leads the Kimberley Visions project, involving comparative archaeological documentation and dating of early rock art repertoires from across the Kimberley and western Arnhem Land in northern Australia. In this interview, Peter explores how the context of rock art and how its meanings can change. How do you describe…
Kimberley Rock Art – A Traditional Owner’s Perspective
By: David Wroth, Japingka Gallery and Leah Umbagi, Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre, 2017 Leah Umbagai paints Wandjina images, as well as pictures of constellations like the Seven Sisters and Wallungunder. She is also an Executive Councillor for Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre. In this interview, Leah talks about the Kimberley rock art and what…
Aboriginal Rock Art of the Kimberley – An Overview
By: David Wroth, Japingka Gallery and Peter Veth, University of Western Australia, 2017 Professor Peter Veth of the University of WA leads the Kimberley Visions project, involving comparative archaeological documentation and dating of early rock art repertoires from across the Kimberley and western Arnhem Land in northern Australia. What is Aboriginal rock art? Rock art…
A Closer Look At Australia’s Kimberley Rock Art
It’s been fascinating to see that recent excavations of a rock shelter near Kakadu National Park indicate humans reached Australia at least 65,000 years ago. This is 18,000 years earlier than archaeologists previously thought and the information provides more insight into Australia’s ancient past. Aboriginal Rock Art Located West of Kununurra – Tourism Western Australia…
How To Choose Art For Your First Apartment
Maya Anderson edits the interior design blog, House Nerd. We asked Maya what advice she would give someone who would like to incorporate Aboriginal art in their first apartment. Here are her tips. If art is important to you, what is the wall colour you should choose? A lot of people will say if art…
The Yam Dreaming of Lorna Napurrula Fencer
Yam Dreaming, a 2017 exhibition at Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery, includes a collection of extraordinary paintings by Lorna Napurrula Fencer. Lorna is a custodian of the Yam Dreaming stories from Yumurrpa, a site in Warlpiri country, to the north of Yuendumu community in Australia’s Northern Territory. View: Yam Dreaming Exhibition (Online) Lorna Fencer (1924-2006) was a famous Lajamanu…
The Role of Aboriginal Art In Contemporary Interior Design
Alana Willis is an Interior Design Consultant for Innerspace in Perth. Here she discusses the qualities she believes Aboriginal art brings to contemporary interior design, her role as designer and what she loves about her job. Why did you select some Aboriginal artworks to hang at the Innerspace showrooms in Perth? I wanted something with…
The Vibrant Colours of Womens’ Yam Dreaming
Our new exhibition is Yam Dreaming and has ten major artists exhibiting. The theme of the exhibition is based on the Bush Yam, which is a staple of the traditional Aboriginal diet in Central Australia. Because of its importance it has become a dominant theme, a central idea, for a significant group of artists to explore. There is…
Aboriginal Artists of Western Australia
Sometimes people in the Gallery ask us about West Australian Aboriginal artists and which communities they should look at. We thought it might be useful to review what we have in our collection and give a general description of the communities represented so that people can quickly explore that for themselves.
Bush Dyed Textiles From Anindilyakwa Art and Culture on Groote Island
Japingka Gallery is exhibiting some very popular bush dyed textiles from Anindilyakwa Art and Culture on Groote Island. In this interview we talk with Lucy Bond, who is the Centre’s Arts Coordinator, about how the women’s textile project came about and its value to the community. Where is Groote Eylandt? Groote Eylandt is the largest…
Visiting Art Communities in Australia’s North West
In this interview Japingka’s David Wroth talks with American art collector John about his recent experience of visiting art communities in Australia’s North West. David: It’s great to see you back here in Fremantle. I believe you’ve been flying over the Kimberley to some pretty interesting places. Where have you been and what was it like?…
Anna Petyarre and the Lands of Central Australia
In Gallery Two, we have a new collection of Anna Petyarre’s latest works, mostly in black and white. These are inspiring paintings – we think these are the finest works she’s painted in the last ten years. Anna Petyarre – Sandhills and River Bed Country Anna is from the famous Petyarre family – Gloria Petyarre…
Yinjaa-Barni Celebrate Marrga Creation Dreaming Stories
It’s wonderful to have the artists from Yinjaa-Barni as regular exhibitors at Japingka Gallery. They work from their Art Centre in Roebourne and have been developing their art steadily for 15 years or more. One of the features of their work is that they refer to their homelands along the Fortescue River. They tell stories of…
Paintings From The Earth – The Ochres From The Kimberley
We have filled Gallery One with a stunning exhibition titled Made in Ochre, featuring paintings from Kimberley artists. There are paintings by major artists of this tradition including many senior artists who’ve now passed on. Jack Britten – Nowlanji The exhibition gives an overview of the style used by ochre artists, with a particular emphasis…
Stories of Land and Sky By The Possum Sisters
We have really enjoyed hosting this wonderful exhibition by sisters Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi and Michelle Possum Nungurrayi. Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi – Grandmothers Country, Seven Sisters Dreaming Their work from the exhibition Talking about Country continues a tradition that was started by their famous father Clifford Possum. These two artists have employed some of the technical devices…
New video library for Aboriginal art resources
There has been a noticeable and exciting rise in the number of teachers, students and art lovers keen to learn about Australian Aboriginal art. We are also observing that video is increasingly the way that people learn and share this information. YouTube and Vimeo and other video databases can be so large, Japingka has launched…
Guess Which Italian Master Inspired Kurun Warun
Yes, I painted when I was three years old. I’ve always had something to do with art because my Mum is an artist. I’ve always grown up with art. As a child, I’d painted landscapes. For 25 years, I went away from the art. In 1999 I did my first painting as an adult. I…
Exhibition Showcases Nyoongar Artists in Northam
Exhibition Showcases Nyoongar Artists in Northam Nyoongar artists have opened an exhibition of their work at the Artists Revolution Gallery in Northam. Artists Revolution is a not for profit arts group designed for artists to promote and sell their art in Northam. The project is co-ordinated by artist and facilitator Patricia Rose. She has lived…
Kurun Warun On Country, Choices & Living Culture
It just feels great. I wouldn’t have imagined this as a child on the mission. It wasn’t trendy to be a black fellow back then. Not like it is now. (Laughs) I reckon you could write a book on that, call it “Trendy To Be A Black Fella.” I just love it that people actually…
Microscopes, Paint Brushes & the Bones of Life
Professor Nadia Rosenthal has a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Harvard Medical School. She is an award-winning cell biologist and passionate Aboriginal art collector. Nadia is currently the Scientific Director and Professor at The Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics. She is described as “a superb scientist, a keen intellect, an outstanding teacher, a visionary leader.” Nadia…
The Vivid Colours of The Tanami Desert
We love exhibiting the Tanami Desert artists and we have a new collection ready to go from Yuendumu and Nyirripi. We’ve had some wonderful paintings over the years from Alma Nungarrayi Granites. These are the amazing Star Dreaming stories that her family are custodians for. Also for this year’s exhibition we have many new paintings that…
Jimmy Pike’s Art In The Market Place
The commercialisation of Jimmy Pike’s artwork onto lifestyle products in the late 1980’s was part of a much bigger design movement in Australia. There were quite a few other artistic figures who were giving us an Australian identity on everyday items, taking Australian design onto products that we wore and we carried with us. Names…
Kurun Warun – Stones, Eels and Harmonious Landscape
Kurun Warun is an Australian indigenous artist whose family originally comes from the western coastal region of Victoria. This is his first solo exhibition in Western Australia. He’s produced some fantastic images where we experience the feeling of being in the Australian landscape, and other paintings that refer to ceremonial traditions in Aboriginal society. Kurun Warun – Dry…
Jimmy Pike – Remembering His Life & His Art
By: David Wroth, Japingka Gallery, 2017 In this article Japingka’s David Wroth discusses his experience working with Jimmy Pike, commencing at Fremantle Prison during the early 1980’s. After Jimmy left prison they continued to work together through the marketing of Jimmy’s work with Desert Designs. David talks about Jimmy’s working process and the elements that you’ll see…
Exploring Aboriginal Art in School Visual Art Programs
It’s exciting to see the new Australian curriculum including more emphasis on indigenous art and culture. We have gathered three resources that explore very different approaches to exploring Aboriginal art in schools within the visual arts program. The first is the Bush Medicine Lesson Plans developed by primary visual arts teacher Ana Nail for use in…
Aboriginal Women Speaking About Art, Family & Country
We are always thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down and speak with artists about their work. Japingka exhibits Aboriginal art from forty different regions right across Australia. A quick look at our Artists Page will show you the extraordinary diversity of that art. Our exhibiting artists include artists who live in the cities and towns while others…