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Aboriginal Art, From an Isolated Part of Australia, Resonates Far Aboriginal Art, From an Isolated Part of Australia, Resonates Far
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MELVILLE ISLAND, Australia — For centuries, the ancestors of the Aborigines on this isolated island off northern Australia scraped white pigment from the cliffs above the tropical waters and used it to adorn their bodies for dances celebrating pelicans and cranes, sharks and crocodiles.MELVILLE ISLAND, Australia — For centuries, the ancestors of the Aborigines on this isolated island off northern Australia scraped white pigment from the cliffs above the tropical waters and used it to adorn their bodies for dances celebrating pelicans and cranes, sharks and crocodiles.
The outdoor ceremonies, performed in great whirls of dust and accompanied with thundering music and song, are less frequent these days. But the white pigment, as well as bright orange ocher, drawn into geometric patterns based on those ancient body designs, is at the heart of a school of Aboriginal contemporary art now exhibited in museums in Australia, the United States and Europe.The outdoor ceremonies, performed in great whirls of dust and accompanied with thundering music and song, are less frequent these days. But the white pigment, as well as bright orange ocher, drawn into geometric patterns based on those ancient body designs, is at the heart of a school of Aboriginal contemporary art now exhibited in museums in Australia, the United States and Europe.
In the long and troubled history between the white inhabitants of Australia and its indigenous population, the emergence of an Aboriginal art movement is a rare success amid a sad tangle of well-meaning but failed economic and social programs aimed at assimilating a nomadic people into settled life.In the long and troubled history between the white inhabitants of Australia and its indigenous population, the emergence of an Aboriginal art movement is a rare success amid a sad tangle of well-meaning but failed economic and social programs aimed at assimilating a nomadic people into settled life.
More than 100 art centers in remote areas of Australia, many of them run with the assistance of white administrators and funded by the government, have served as incubators for Aboriginal artists who compete for well-funded corporate art prizes, show at festivals and travel the world.More than 100 art centers in remote areas of Australia, many of them run with the assistance of white administrators and funded by the government, have served as incubators for Aboriginal artists who compete for well-funded corporate art prizes, show at festivals and travel the world.
On Melville Island, the larger of two that make up the Tiwi Islands, the Jilamara arts center is home to more than three dozen painters whose work is valued partly because, as a group, they stick to natural ochers from the land.On Melville Island, the larger of two that make up the Tiwi Islands, the Jilamara arts center is home to more than three dozen painters whose work is valued partly because, as a group, they stick to natural ochers from the land.
They forswear the brilliantly hued acrylics that have been introduced at Aboriginal art centers elsewhere. And they use a traditional wooden comb to apply the ocher to paper, board or linen, much as it was used to paint their ancestors’ bodies.They forswear the brilliantly hued acrylics that have been introduced at Aboriginal art centers elsewhere. And they use a traditional wooden comb to apply the ocher to paper, board or linen, much as it was used to paint their ancestors’ bodies.
The artists work in two large, open-sided buildings: one for women, one for men, as called for by tribal custom. Long trestle tables that look out onto a forest of brilliant green palms and towering gray eucalyptus trees make up the work space.The artists work in two large, open-sided buildings: one for women, one for men, as called for by tribal custom. Long trestle tables that look out onto a forest of brilliant green palms and towering gray eucalyptus trees make up the work space.
Power tools lie around, evidence of the creation of wooden sculptures that some of the artists carve from trees in an echo of traditional funeral poles. And when there is a need for a deep-red ocher, the artists simply heat orange ocher from the ground in a saucepan over an outdoor fire until it turns vermilion.Power tools lie around, evidence of the creation of wooden sculptures that some of the artists carve from trees in an echo of traditional funeral poles. And when there is a need for a deep-red ocher, the artists simply heat orange ocher from the ground in a saucepan over an outdoor fire until it turns vermilion.
The people on the islands here, also known as the Tiwi, pride themselves on being different from Aborigines on mainland Australia.The people on the islands here, also known as the Tiwi, pride themselves on being different from Aborigines on mainland Australia.
Their language and traditions are distinct, and they say that because of their isolation, they have managed to keep their culture alive while adapting to the Australian way of life. About 700 people live on Melville Island and about 2,500 are on nearby Bathurst Island, local administrators say. Their language and traditions are distinct, and they say that because of their isolation, they have managed to keep their culture alive while adapting to the Australian way of life. About 700 people live on Melville Island, and about 2,500 are on nearby Bathurst Island, local administrators say.
“We are living with white society and also living with my culture,” Pedro Wonaeamirri, 42, a prominent Tiwi artist, said as he showed a visitor around the Jilamara center. “It is really hard to choose which is better. We are living both ways — we are used to it.”“We are living with white society and also living with my culture,” Pedro Wonaeamirri, 42, a prominent Tiwi artist, said as he showed a visitor around the Jilamara center. “It is really hard to choose which is better. We are living both ways — we are used to it.”
Mr. Wonaeamirri, whose work hangs in many Australian museums, said he abhors Western methods in his art. “Acrylics, no. Canvas, no,” he said.Mr. Wonaeamirri, whose work hangs in many Australian museums, said he abhors Western methods in his art. “Acrylics, no. Canvas, no,” he said.
Still, people here prefer riding in a car to walking, he said. Mobile phones and tablet devices are common. Alcohol, a problem in many Aboriginal communities in Australia, is strictly monitored. A club opens four times a week for three hours at a time and sells only light beer.Still, people here prefer riding in a car to walking, he said. Mobile phones and tablet devices are common. Alcohol, a problem in many Aboriginal communities in Australia, is strictly monitored. A club opens four times a week for three hours at a time and sells only light beer.
Yet the rhythms of the old days endure. A cinder-block police station is supposed to be visited once a week by a police officer who flies in on a single-engine plane from Darwin, the closest city, 50 miles south across the sea. But the telephone lines to the mainland are so bad that the police do not always come when needed, and traditional customs sometimes take precedence over Australian laws.Yet the rhythms of the old days endure. A cinder-block police station is supposed to be visited once a week by a police officer who flies in on a single-engine plane from Darwin, the closest city, 50 miles south across the sea. But the telephone lines to the mainland are so bad that the police do not always come when needed, and traditional customs sometimes take precedence over Australian laws.
Trips overseas are not unheard-of. Recently, Brian Farmer Illortaminni flew to Britain to bring back two painted decorative armbands that had been used by women in dance ceremonies and had been taken by anthropologists decades ago to show in a British museum.Trips overseas are not unheard-of. Recently, Brian Farmer Illortaminni flew to Britain to bring back two painted decorative armbands that had been used by women in dance ceremonies and had been taken by anthropologists decades ago to show in a British museum.
On Sundays, families fish using lines, nets and traditional three-pronged wooden spears. Water buffalo, wallabies and small crocodiles are hunted for their flavor and nutritional value. “Good tucker,” said Mr. Wonaeamirri, using a popular Australian word for food.On Sundays, families fish using lines, nets and traditional three-pronged wooden spears. Water buffalo, wallabies and small crocodiles are hunted for their flavor and nutritional value. “Good tucker,” said Mr. Wonaeamirri, using a popular Australian word for food.
The British, who founded Australia in 1788, tried to claim the Tiwis in 1824, but they were eventually driven away by the punishing climate, which is spectacularly hot in the summer, and by the hostility of the people.The British, who founded Australia in 1788, tried to claim the Tiwis in 1824, but they were eventually driven away by the punishing climate, which is spectacularly hot in the summer, and by the hostility of the people.
While much of the rest of Australia was colonized in the 19th century, the Tiwis remained a realm unto themselves except for occasional canoe forays to the mainland, where, according to legend, Tiwi men captured Aboriginal women to bring back home.While much of the rest of Australia was colonized in the 19th century, the Tiwis remained a realm unto themselves except for occasional canoe forays to the mainland, where, according to legend, Tiwi men captured Aboriginal women to bring back home.
A buffalo hunter, Robert Joel Cooper, turned up on the islands in 1895, prompting Australian newspapers, whose reporting showed scant respect for Aboriginal culture, to refer to him as the “King of the Cannibals.” A buffalo hunter, Robert Joel Cooper, turned up on the islands in 1895, prompting Australian newspapers, whose reporting showed scant respect for Aboriginal culture, to refer to him as the King of the Cannibals.
A German anthropologist, Hermann Klaatsch, followed soon after, and his writings brought early attention to the artistic traditions of the Tiwis’ body paint and their bold designs.A German anthropologist, Hermann Klaatsch, followed soon after, and his writings brought early attention to the artistic traditions of the Tiwis’ body paint and their bold designs.
By 1911, Roman Catholic missionaries had arrived, and they stayed.By 1911, Roman Catholic missionaries had arrived, and they stayed.
In the past decade, the artists on the islands have worked to distinguish their artworks from the more-popular indigenous art that sells to backpackers and other travelers. In the past decade, the artists on the islands have worked to distinguish their artworks from the more popular indigenous art that sells to backpackers and other travelers.
An influential art critic, Christopher Allen of The Australian, the national newspaper, groused not long ago that there was too much Aboriginal art, some of it poor quality. “Traditional customs, rituals and symbols, deeply meaningful in their original contexts, have been inevitably compromised by being turned into commodities,” he wrote. An influential art critic, Christopher Allen of The Australian, the national newspaper, groused not long ago that there was too much Aboriginal art, some of it of poor quality. “Traditional customs, rituals and symbols, deeply meaningful in their original contexts, have been inevitably compromised by being turned into commodities,” he wrote.
So far, the art of the Tiwi appears immune to such criticism.So far, the art of the Tiwi appears immune to such criticism.
One of the most acclaimed of the Tiwi artists, Timothy Cook, whose work hangs in the National Gallery of Australia, won the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, sponsored by the telecommunications company Telstra, in 2012. For that he received 40,000 Australian dollars, or about $42,000 at the time.One of the most acclaimed of the Tiwi artists, Timothy Cook, whose work hangs in the National Gallery of Australia, won the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, sponsored by the telecommunications company Telstra, in 2012. For that he received 40,000 Australian dollars, or about $42,000 at the time.
Mr. Cook, who started painting as a teenager, is scheduled to show his work in Paris this year. A tall man who was dressed one day recently in jeans and a checked shirt, he is not exactly sure how old he is, probably about 60, he said.Mr. Cook, who started painting as a teenager, is scheduled to show his work in Paris this year. A tall man who was dressed one day recently in jeans and a checked shirt, he is not exactly sure how old he is, probably about 60, he said.
Asked what he did with his prize money, he smiled before replying, “I bought a minivan and a boat.”Asked what he did with his prize money, he smiled before replying, “I bought a minivan and a boat.”