Artist Profile — Emily Kngwarreye
Since the mid Nineties, Aboriginal art has been a huge draw on the international art market, and no one has been more popular than Utopia’s Emily Kngwarreye. With practically no artistic training and from the edge of the Simpson Desert, she took the world by storm and became Australia’s most famous Aboriginal artist. Even though Clifford Possum has gone on to take the record of most expensive Aboriginal art from her, Emily remains an intrinsic part of the Aboriginal art scene, and an inspiration to Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists across Australia and around the world. The following is a brief look at Emily Kngwarreye.
Mbantua Gallery gets Award
Mbantua Aboriginal Art Gallery receives Certificate of Thanks from Pine Gap Facility.
Government Programs Helping Support Indigenous Art
Governments of all levels right across Australia have finally started to come to the party and provide funding for much needed Indigenous art and culture projects. Many of these programs and projects have been used effectively as a means for shattered communities to heal, and move forward post-Stolen Generation. With Australian Aboriginal art now starting to sell for record prices, it is becoming significantly easier to receive funding for Indigenous art projects that would have once been turned down. The following are just some of the examples of ways in which government funding in Australia is helping support art in both urban and rural Indigenous communities.
Most Expensive Aboriginal Art Ever Sold
Since the late ‘90s, Australian Aboriginal art has been taking the art world by storm, regularly smashing records for art sales and creating a hype that hasn’t been seen in decades. With so much art still uncovered, it is expected that Australian Aboriginal art will continue to dazzle and wow art lovers and appreciators across the globe. The following pieces were record setters in their own time, and they are sure to be joined by more record setters very soon.
‘Warlugulong’ by Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
This amazing piece smashed the record for most expensive piece of Aboriginal painting ever sold, and became the fifth most expensive Australian painting ever when it sold for $2.4 million in 2007. Tjapaltjarri lived from 1932-2002 and this painting, which consists of five canvasses, was a means to map out his ancestral land. In the painting the blue-tongued lizard Lungkata is depicted at the Fire Dreaming place with his two sons. The painting had hung for 20 years in a bank cafeteria before being resold for just $39,000 in 1996 at auction to Hank Ebes, who made a handy profit when the painting resold again for $2.4 million.
Best Sights to See Around Alice Springs
Located smack bang in the middle of Australia, Alice Springs is well and truly worth a visit, for its history as much as for its staggering beauty. While you’ll have everything you need in the city, many of the big highlights here involve getting out and into the spellbinding surrounding landscape. Just in case you don’t get a chance to come back, make sure you check out all of these amazing sights while you have the opportunity.
MacDonnell Ranges
You’ll be able to see these gorgeous ranges from Alice Springs, though you should get out and take a closer look. The MacDonnell Ranges run for over 640km, and include two parallel ridges that run to the east and west of Alice Springs. Consisting of numerous spectacular gorges and rock formations, this short trip out of ‘Alice’ will be a highlight of your ‘Red Centre’ adventure. Home to some incredible Aboriginal cave paintings, these ranges are also known for their life-giving permanent water holes, though make sure you take lots of water with you when you head out exploring.
How Indigenous Art is Helping Communities
Art has always played some type of role in indigenous communities, though for many, embracing their artistic side has led to significant changes and positive developments in their community. Art is an incredibly positive thing, and its influence can transform energy, people or a place. The following are some of the impressive ways that indigenous art is helping out indigenous communities.
Maintain their culture
Art plays an important role in all communities, and none more so than those of the indigenous. Important cultural histories and stories are often told using various types of art, and the passing on of these stories plays a crucial role in indigenous communities. Certain artistic practices have deep spiritual meaning, and without them the communities would find themselves seriously deprived.
The Founding of Alice Springs
Alice Springs is the Northern Territory’s second largest city with just over 27,000 people, and is located essentially in the geographic centre of Australia, also known as the ‘Red Centre’. While Aboriginal people have been living in the area for thousands of years, the settlement of Alice Springs has only been around for less than a century. The following is a brief history of the founding of Alice Springs.
Early contact
The first real look that white people had at Central Australia was when John Stuart led an expedition through the area in 1861-62. Ten years later, a repeater station of the ‘Overland Telegraph Line’ was positioned here, which formed part of a line of communications set up linking Adelaide to Darwin to Great Britain.
4 of Australia’s Most Famous People
For a large country with only a small population, Australians really have done a great job of making a name for themselves. No matter what the industry, field or sport, you will see Australians up there with some of the best in the world, and quite often they are even leading their peers. The following are some of those Australians who have done more than just succeed in getting a name for themselves and have become known across this huge island continent and often around the world.
Emily Kame Kngwarreye
5 Aussie Things You Have to See to Believe
Australia really is a place like no other and some of its most special places really do need to be seen to be believed. While you can get some pretty awesome photos showcasing some of these amazing spots, only by being there can you truly get a sense of the how incredible these highlights truly are. The following are some great Australian highlights that can only be properly appreciated by going and checking them out in person.
Aboriginal Rock Art
5 Ways to Tell a Story Through Art
Everybody loves a good story and there are definitely lots of creative ways that a story can be told, including through the medium of art. The use of art in storytelling is something that has been done for thousands of years, and as art has evolved over the years and morphed into new forms, we have seen more and more different ways that a story can be told. The following are just some of the many ways that art can be used as an effective storyteller.
Paintings