Home is where the art is
Aboriginal dot painting
In 1971, Geoffrey Bardon a school teacher working with Aboriginal children in
Papunya, noticed the Aboriginal men, while telling stories to others, were drawing
symbols in the sand. He encouraged them to put these stories down on board and
canvas with the use of dots and there began the Aboriginal art movement.
The use of Aboriginal Dot painting
The most common style of Aboriginal paintings is the dot painting. It’s been
recognized by many as Aboriginal Art.
It varies from fine dot work to large bold dots. All colours can be used. The smaller
dots often represent a more modern look and the bold dots a more traditional look.
For example; the ‘modern look’ Aboriginal dot painting from Arkeria Rose Armstrong is very
different in style than the bold dots from Nellie Marks Nakamarra
Sacred designs
They say that the dots in the painting are the ‘text’ in the picture and is written in
code. To disguise the meanings for sacred and secret reasons.
In the early days Aboriginals draw sacred designs which belonged to that particular
ceremony in sand. They smoothed over again and therefore not visible for an
outsider. This is not possible with paintings. So they abstracted their paintings with
the use of dots.
