Living with Aboriginal Art
Enhance Your Home with Aboriginal Art, Colour Therapy, and the Ancient Art of Feng Shui
Life is indeed better with art. The transformative power of art in a home or office setting is undeniable. As a profound expression of individual taste and creativity, art can significantly enhance both the aesthetic appeal and the emotional atmosphere of a space. This guide delves into how blending various artworks, from warm desert dot paintings to intricate bark paintings and sculptural hollow logs, with a variety of other contemporary pieces, can create a uniquely engaging environment in any home or office.
Above: Photography by Dylan Lark for Aspect11 and styling by Justine Murphy for BuildHer Collective. Artwork by Lee Nangala Gallagher.
L Interior by Arnet Pyke R Interior by The Design Files
Evaluating Your Space
Assessing Wall Space and Lighting: The ideal art display begins with understanding your space. The interplay of light, both natural and artificial, will guide where to position artworks for maximum impact.
Aligning Art with Feng Shui: Incorporating Feng Shui, the art of harmony and energy flow, can enhance the balance and wellbeing in your home. Thoughtful positioning of artworks, especially those with cultural significance like Aboriginal pieces, can amplify the positive energy in a space.
Colour Significance in Feng Shui: Colours are powerful in Feng Shui, representing different elements and energies. Choosing artwork colours that align with these principles can enhance the desired mood and energy of a room.
Artwork Display Techniques
Creating a Gallery Wall: A gallery wall offers a versatile way to display an array of art pieces. Whether opting for a symmetrical or an asymmetrical arrangement, integrating various artworks, like a vibrant Aboriginal warm desert dot painting alongside a contemporary abstract piece, can create a stunning visual impact.
Thematic Grouping: Cohesion is key in art displays. Grouping Aboriginal bark paintings, known for their natural tones and textures, with classical art forms, or placing a sculptural hollow log in a contemporary setting, can create a dialogue between the old and the new.
Highlighting Standout Pieces: Certain artworks, like a commanding hollow log sculpture or a large-scale desert dot painting, deserve their own space. These pieces can act as focal points, drawing the eye and inviting closer inspection.
Interiors by The Design Files
The Role of Colour in Art
Emotional Connections: Artwork colours evoke feelings and set the mood. A warm desert dot painting with its earthy reds and oranges can add warmth and energy to a room, while the natural hues of bark paintings can create a sense of calm.
Colour Therapy in Decor: Integrating artwork colours with your home decor can transform the atmosphere. Aboriginal art, with its diverse colour palette, can energize or soothe spaces, depending on the artwork chosen.
Artwork and Room Colour Schemes: Aboriginal artworks, with their distinctive colours and patterns, can complement or provide striking contrasts within different room colour schemes. A monochromatic room can be enlivened with the vibrant hues of a dot painting, while a colourful space can be balanced with the earthy tones of a bark painting.
The Impact of Lighting on Art
Balancing natural and artificial light is crucial in how artwork colours are perceived. Spotlights can highlight the textures and colours of Aboriginal art, enhancing their presence in a room.
Exploring the Interplay of 2D and 3D Art
Two-Dimensional Artworks: Aboriginal paintings, such as dot paintings and bark paintings, offer a window into the rich storytelling traditions and artistic heritage of Indigenous Australians.
Three-Dimensional Objects: Sculptural pieces like hollow logs bring a tactile, physical presence to a space. These artworks can be displayed as standalone pieces or integrated into a larger arrangement.
Balancing 2D and 3D Art: Combining different forms of Aboriginal art with contemporary pieces creates a dynamic and harmonious environment. For instance, the organic form of a hollow log sculpture can beautifully contrast with the geometric precision of modern art.
Life is Better With Art
Incorporating Aboriginal art into your home is not just about aesthetic enhancement; it's a celebration of cultural richness and history. By thoughtfully combining these artworks with contemporary pieces and considering the principles of Feng Shui and colour therapy, you create a living space that is not only visually stunning but also emotionally and culturally resonant. From structured gallery walls featuring vibrant dot paintings to serene spaces anchored by the natural elegance of bark paintings, your home becomes a testament to the power of art in creating a harmonious and enriching environment.
Ready to explore the beauty of Aboriginal art in your own space?
Let's start here, with our beautiful collection of authentic artworks from Central Australia's desert communities. Shop our Aboriginal Dot Paintings collection and add a piece of this rich cultural heritage to your home.