aboriginal art gallery

Aboriginal Art - One of the Oldest Art Forms in the World Becoming Commercial

Without a doubt, Australian Aboriginal Art is a form of art that has had a huge impact around the world. Robert Hughes is a prominent art critic and long time writer for Time Magazine and describes Aboriginal Art as the 'last great art movement'.

What makes that statement so significant is Australian Aboriginal Art is one of the oldest forms of Art anywhere on the planet yet as an art style commercially it is one of the youngest.

Ancient Rock Art found in some of the remotest parts of Australia date back 30,000 to 40,000 years. However, as a saleable commodity, this form of art has only really been available since the 70's.

The unification of ancient custom and practice and the originality of Aboriginal Art emerging on the international art market, has produced a huge reaction through the art world as it is realized as a discovery that will never be seen again.

Aboriginal Artists have actually been selling their unusual artwork since before the 1930's, not yet known to the international market it remained contained within Australia seen only by those who happened to be travelling through the remote parts of the country and discovered it for themselves.

Generally, artwork produced from these times was created on bark. Canvas was not introduced to the Aborigines until the early 70's when Geoffrey Bardon, a graduate of the National Art School, took on a teaching job at Papunya, an isolated Aboriginal settlement 250 km west of Alice Springs.

Bardon noticed the people at Papunya drawing images and stories in the sand. Bardon persuaded them to do the same but using various materials to preserve it, such as paper, the doors at the school and eventually transferring them to canvas.

Bardon worked alongside the Aboriginal painters and, in the early 70's, the Papunya Tula painting movement was founded. Bardon dedicated many years of his life to recording and supporting the art he respected so much. He was instrumental in establishing the art centre at Papunya and with it the last great art movement began.

From Papunya, Aboriginal Art found its way to Central Australia, Kimberley in Western Australia and up to the north of Australia in Arnhem Land, as well as the Tiwi Islands. Now recognized all over Australia, Aboriginal communities all over the country share their history and culture through art to anyone who is interested.

There is a huge difference in Aboriginal Art styles as each area of Australia is distinctive and totally separate from other parts of the country, each has their own unique traditions, culture, and stories to tell.

Aboriginal Art is not only the leading art style in Australia today, but also one of the most significant globally with major works of art by Aboriginal artists hanging in famous art galleries, auction houses and private collections.

Since its emergence commercially in the 70's and steady growth through the 80's, Aboriginal Art has burst onto the international Art landscape.

As demand rises and international art fanatics start to understand its unique history as one of the oldest and youngest styles of art at the same time, the realization that it just may be the last great art movement ever discovered is remarkable.

Investing in Australian Aboriginal Art

One of the hottest areas of the contemporary art scene in Australia today is Australian Aboriginal art, which is becoming an increasingly attractive option for many investors. The Aboriginal art market has attracted increasing international attention in recent years, and has experienced exceptional growth which appears set to maintain pace in the medium term. Aboriginal art considerably outsells non-indigenous Australian art at auction and has gained significant international standing. It is critical that investors are well informed before entering the Aboriginal art market, however, not only to ensure that investments are made in quality work by quality artists, but also to guarantee the provenance and authenticity of the work.

Australian Aboriginal art has generally proved to be a solid investment over time. Work by important Aboriginal artists has increased in value markedly over the past 30 years, with individual works fetching prices as high $350,000 at international auction. Prudent investors who have developed good relationships with specialist galleries can derive great pleasure from collecting the art of the world's oldest living indigenous culture, and can also be assured that the artists in question have been treated fairly and ethically, and that their investment is secure.

One of the first considerations when investing in Aboriginal art is a Certificate of Authenticity. Certificates are normally issued by the community where the artist lives and paints, or by the gallery from which the artwork is purchased. Certificates vary in the details they provide, however most include information including the artist's name, community and language group, the title, story and size of the work, and the name and code of the relevant community art centre or gallery. A photo of the artist with the work is also often included with the certificate.

Many of the factors involved in determining the value of an Aboriginal art work are similar to those involved in any other art work. A particular piece should in the first instance be attractive to the investor on the basis of its immediate aesthetic value, but its current and future financial value depend on a variety of factors requiring careful research. These factors include the renown of the artist and the period of the artist's career in which the work was created. Other factors particular to the Australian Aboriginal art market include the artist's age and seniority as a tribal elder, and their role or position in the historical development of Aboriginal art.

Prior to purchasing a painting, investors should research the artist in as much depth as possible. Determine whether the artist is represented in significant collections or galleries in Australia and internationally. Also determine how prolific the artist is, and whether there is strong demand for the artist in the secondary market - in other words, at auction. View as much work by the artist as possible to determine whether the work under consideration is from a well regarded period or series. Works painted during particular periods can be significantly more valuable than those from other periods. Finally, make sure you have an accurate understanding of the current market value of the artist's work.

If all these factors seem daunting, don't hesitate to ask for professional advice. The Australian Aboriginal art market is far more open than it once was, with increased competition facilitating a marked improvement in service. Reputable gallery owners, dealers and auction houses possess the necessary expertise and are generally happy to assist new investors. One final point to consider when investing in any art are add-on expenses including transaction costs, commissions, insurance and restoration charges. These costs can be high, so be sure to factor them into the purchase price where applicable.

Australian Aboriginal Art and Culture - A Unique Travel Experience

From Kakadu National Park to Darwin extends an area known as the 'top end' of Australia. It is where warm weather, stunning contrasting outback terrain and delicate vegetation and unique fauna merge, to provide an eco-system vacant of modern society, making it another of the great places to stay in Australia.

Water-lilies drift on billabongs, flocks of magpie geese and cockatoos hang suspended in thermal currents, with caves and rock faces embellished in ancient aboriginal art becoming artefacts from an age passed.

Kakadu - owned by the Aboriginal people - covers approximately 20,000 square kilometres of some of Australia's most untamed and alluring wilderness. Scattered with rainforest alcoves, forest swamps and dwarf scrubland, Kakadu is home to some of Australia's most exclusive and rare animal species. However, caution must be taken when exploring this magnificent expanse because the crocodiles that also live here are occasionally prone to chewing on the odd foolish tourist who doesn't follow their tour guide's safety instructions!

Ignorant Tourists beware!

Climate ranges from about 19 degrees celsius in July (dry-season) and up to a maximum of about 30 degrees, with a minimum of 25 degrees in January (wet-season) and up to 32 degrees maximum.

Two of the easiest-to-get-to rock-art sites are Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock, with many of the paintings being over 60,000 years old. Luxury travel in the top end is via 4WD with some of the most stunning sites to be seen by pre-arranged and guided safari tours.

Several of the more well known ones are:

• Guliyambi East Alligator River Cruises - which show the stark contrast of the landscape and denotes the scenic river setting
• Magela Cultural and Heritage Tour - which journeys across isolated and restricted areas and allows you to experience aboriginal culture at its rawest
• Dreamtime Safaris - Stay with the Tablon tribe as they demonstrate their way of life in an exclusive luxury camp setting which provides alternative accommodation

Should you be a collector of rare Aboriginal art, then several art galleries that you can not afford to miss while in Darwin are Aboriginal Fine Arts, Cultural Images, Ampiji, and Indigenous Creations, while Kakadu has The Marrwuddi Gallery and Warradjan Cultural Centre.