Aboriginal Art

Walk of Peace, Gina Varagnoli (2011)

Gina Varagnoli is an Italian / Aboriginal artist who is based in Australia. Her painting 'Walk of Peace' reflects her cultural heritage. The work above integrates both a traditional and modern style. The way the dots are painted, the lines and the use of footprints reflects the traditional while the peace symbol reflects the modern. Aboriginal art is full of symbols. Footprints and tracks for example, imply that there are people or animals present. To fully appreciate Aboriginal art it is best to understand what the symbols in the art represent.

I was lucky enough to take an art course in Alice Springs when I was living in Australia and spent two days with an Aboriginal artist. The first lesson was spent drawing the symbols in the sandy earth and learning their meanings.

I have chosen to write about Aboriginal art in this blog as walking is an important aspect of Aboriginal culture. We are all familiar with the 'Walkabout' but perhaps we are not so familiar with what walking actually means to the Aboriginal people. Ingold in 'Lines' (2007) tells us that 'the life of a Walbiri person....is laid out on the ground as the sum of his trails' (p.100). Although many Aborigines have replaced walking with a car, the trails are still followed. It is along these trails that stories are made and told. To the Aborigini there is a strong relationship between stories, the land and walking. Their artwork is a means to recording and telling stories.

The idea of integrating footsteps into my artwork 'Lindisfarne Crossing' came from this work.

References

Ingold, T. (2007) Lines, Routledge, New York

Varagnoli, G. Walk of Peace, (2011) Available at: http://dnaag.com.au/the-gallery/paintings/walk-of-peace/ [Accessed: 17th December 2014].