Art of the First Nations People of Australia

Words by Emilia Sogaard

In anticipation of our upcoming exhibition “Perceiving Nature: Exploring Representations of the Natural World'' I wanted to explore the art of the First Nations People of Australia. “Perceiving Nature” draws attention to the significance of nature’s influence in art and our everyday lives. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on Australian soil for over 60,000 years and their works of art tell compelling stories of their pasts and traditions, intertwined with the land. By looking more closely at just some of their art you can see how the natural world exists in art as a means of communication.

Disclaimer notice which is shown when clicking on the National Gallery of Victoria website, Jan 2024.

When viewing these artworks in a white cube gallery space, certain political issues must be acknowledged. For example, they are exhibited on land which is recognised as traditionally owned by the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung People, making it necessary for us to think about how we come to see and interact with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The National Gallery of Victoria, Australia, claims that the “central role of art in passing down important cultural knowledge” acts as the focal point of their display of the First Nations artwork. However, while having these artworks on show means they reach a wider public there are undoubtedly contextual questions that must be raised.

View of one of the exhibition rooms at the NGV, Melbourne, Dec 2023.

The art discussed in this article explores how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists understand and engage with how they fit into the natural world. Their perception of nature, of paths travelled and histories unravelled are communicated through these great paintings.

The way in which they have captured the natural world is an art style deserving of its own name. The layered dotting and concentric circle are frequently assimilated as characteristics of ‘Aboriginal art’ – yet there is not one set style and in looking at these artworks we must acknowledge the diverse array of artistic methods and practices. Grouping this art together under labels such as ‘Aboriginal art’ is hugely detrimental. Not only can it lead to unethical commercialisation, but it also converges their many diverse histories into one narrative.

“Wingu Tingima, Minyma Tjuta (Seven Sisters)”, 2006, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 138.0 x 205.0 cm, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

This epic painting exploding with colour depicts the story of the Seven Sisters. This painting simultaneously speaks of the water snakes found in the ground and the stars in the sky, forming the Pleiades star cluster, which signifies that the Seven Sisters escape. The story goes that an Ancestral Man relentlessly pursues the Seven Sisters (Ancestral Women) over land and sky. They travel from Western Australia, into the APY Lands and Warlpiri country, creating sandhills and rocky outcrops – manipulating the landscape to aid their escape. They create a rock hole which fills with water and allows them to fly up into the sky. This tale of pursuit across land and sky, designed in such a painterly way, gives insight to how the First Nations People perceive the nature that they live in and demonstrates how they have referenced it through art. In Aboriginal Australia the stories associated with the stars and night skies carry meanings which probe deep into the law and culture and social structures of the people.

Moa/ Banks Island, Torres Strait silk, linen, natural dyed raffia, Paula Savage, National Gallery Victoria, Melbourne, 2023.

These three large scale sculptures represent the three main reefs of Moa which is the artist’s home. The reefs which are represented and the animals which are part of their ecosystem hold a strong cultural importance for the artist. I included this artwork, created for Melbourne Design Week, as it highlights the contemporary nature of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and the different mediums used. When observing these artworks within a gallery space, it is up to the viewer to decide whether they are a passive viewer, viewing the art as art for art’s sake? Or whether they engage, educating themselves about the complex history of the land of Australia?

Campaign poster for the referendum, in Australia, 2023.

By exploring the individual perceptions of nature through these artworks, we recognise the existence of these people and bring to the forefront the land claims and ongoing legal battles that exist today between the people native to the land and the descendants of the white settlers. On 14th October 2023 there was a referendum held in Australia for constitutional reform which would lead to the Constitution recognising the rights and opinions of the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. These people have inhabited the land for over 60,000 years yet today are the most disadvantaged.

This referendum campaign, otherwise known as the ‘yes vote’ shows the ongoing struggle for their identity, constitutional change and voice in society. Surprisingly this referendum was not passed, showing the crucial divides within Australian society.

This result in 2023 highlights not only the political situation in Australia but also the mindset of land ownership, with little regard being shown for the long-standing relationship between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the land.

Please follow this link for an interactive tour of the First Nations Art from the NGV Australia collection: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/virtual-tours/indigenous-art-from-the-ngv-collection/