Aboriginal Art
The Continuing Tradition
3 Jun 1989 – 17 Sep 1989
Peter Marralwanga, Kuninjku (Eastern Kunwinjku) people, Ngalyod, the Rainbow Serpent swallowing a woman, c. 1980, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Purchased from National Gallery admission charges 1986.
About
This exhibition displayed the finest examples of Aboriginal art made in the contemporary decades preceding 1990. Using traditional and non-traditional media, the contemporary Aboriginal artists represented in the show have produced an extraordinary range and variety of works that reflect the continuity of their ancient traditions.
The exhibition had been arranged according to geographical regions in order to clarify the regional differences that exist in Aboriginal art styles across Australia. Works from Arnhem Land and the areas surrounding Arnhem Land formed the first part of the show, and these are followed by works from Western Australia, the desert regions and urban areas. The last work in the exhibition — The Aboriginal Memorial — could be seen in Gallery 9, on the lower level (Level 3) of the Gallery. This installation of 200 hollow log coffins, which was created by various Ramingining artists from the Northern Territory, was commissioned for the National Collection in 1987.
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