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Aboriginal Art Blog
ART ARK®




Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative

Located in the heart of Sydney, Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative was established in 1987. This dynamic co-operative has become a cornerstone of the Aboriginal art community, providing a platform for Indigenous artists from urban areas and regional New South Wales to showcase their unique talents and perspectives.

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Emily Kam Kngwarray's Untitled (Alhalker) Achieves Remarkable Sale at Sotheby's

In a historic moment for Australian First Nations art, the mesmerising painting "Untitled (Alhalker)" by the esteemed Aboriginal artist Emily Kam Kngwarray reached an impressive sale price of £635,000 (including Buyer's Premium) at Sotheby's Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Auction in London. The event, held on a prestigious night, saw Emily's work showcased alongside masterpieces by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, and Barbara Hepworth.

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Badu Art Centre

The Badu Art Centre artists draw inspiration from their profound connection to their ancestral lands and the rich marine environment. The waters surrounding Badu Island are teeming with life, providing both sustenance and artistic inspiration for the local community. The artists at the centre skilfully capture the essence of their environment, weaving stories of the sea, sky, and land into their art.

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Rainbow Serpent Dreamtime Story

The Rainbow Serpent is a powerful Dreamtime Story. Rooted in the cultural beliefs and mythologies of Australian Aboriginal groups, this ancient narrative weaves together the forces of creation, nature, and spiritual wisdom. Aboriginal artists have played a crucial role in capturing the essence of the Rainbow Serpent through their artworks.

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Tasmanian Aboriginal History: The Black War

As ART ARK is proudly based in Launceston, Tasmania, we believe it's important to share with you some contextual history that you may not know. Tasmania's past is rich and complex, marked by significant events that have shaped the island's cultural and social landscape. One such period is the Black Wars, a series of intense conflicts that took place in the early 19th century between the Indigenous Tasmanian population, known collectively as the Palawa people, and European settlers. Understanding this history is crucial for appreciating the depth of Tasmania's heritage and the resilience of its people.

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National Sorry Day and the Stolen Generations

The term "Stolen Generations" painfully marks a dark era in Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were systematically and forcibly taken from their families by state policies, stretching from the 1910s until the 1970s. Records were incomplete and policies varied across states, but estimates suggest that between one in ten and one in three Indigenous children were removed from their families during this period.

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Noŋgirrŋa Marawili

Born around 1939 at Darrpirra in northeast Arnhem Land, Noŋgirrŋa Marawili was a Maḏarrpa elder of the Yolŋu people who began painting in her own name after her husband's death, went on to win the Telstra bark painting award in 2015 and 2019, and placed work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Tate Modern.

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Djambawa Marawili AM

Marawili's contributions to Aboriginal art have been recognised with numerous awards, including the prestigious National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award. His work has been exhibited in major galleries and institutions around the world, showcasing the richness and depth of Yolngu art to a global audience.

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