Aboriginal Australians traditionally used art as
a means of communication or expression in different forms such as
rock engravings, cave paintings and designs cut into trees, wooden
articles such as boomerangs and on their bodies (scarification). The
symbols of their artwork were expressions of their beliefs, the Dreamtime
and Dreaming stories or in some cases were records
of specific events. Whatever they drew, engraved or painted onto such
surfaces as sand, earth, rock, trees or wood had significant meanings
to them.
The term art, broadly interpreted, also includes story telling, song,
music and dance. These forms of Aboriginal art were often sacred because
of their connection to the Dreamtime and Aboriginal spiritual beliefs,
or because they were accessible only to initiated adults. Other stories
were secular (non-sacred) and included stories for children and those
that recorded major events such as great battles, memorable hunting
expeditions or the arrival of Europeans and others into their country.
For further information, see our pages on the following topics:
Traditional
Aboriginal Art