Powerful growth of Aboriginal art

Contemporary Aboriginal art, whether it consists of traditional ocher pigments on bark or wood or bright acrylics applied to canvas, is both a vital expression of the world's oldest continuous cultural tradition and a remarkable modern art movement. As the art critic for Time magazine, the expatriate Australian Robert Hughes, stated, it is "the last great art movement of the 20th century." And it shows no signs of abating in the 21st century.

The auction market for Aboriginal art is well above 11 million Australian dollars, or about $8 million a year, with around 70 percent of buyers coming from Europe and the United States.

Western archaeologists have dated Aboriginal presence in Australia as far back as 40,000 years, partly as a result of rock art found in Arnhem Land and the Kimberley. Other less permanent art forms, including body, bark and sand art, have all played a vital part in the culture for many centuries.

When you look for Balgo (near the border of Western Australia and Northern Territory), for instance, under the "Regions" section on the site, there is detailed information about the culture, landscape and artists, along with a selection of the vibrant almost electric-colored acrylic paintings on canvas and glass. With the click of a mouse you can then go to the Tiwi Islands, off the coast of the Northern Territory, for detailed information about this region's culture and art, formal geometric patterns in a narrower palette range on wooden pukumani (burial) poles and carved animal sculptures, batik prints and acrylic on canvas.

According to Wardrop, remote art centers get traditional artists started in various media by making supplies readily available and marketing their work. Often partnerships with commercial galleries are an important next step as the galleries can play a vital role in developing individual artists with one-person shows. Wardrop emphasizes the importance of dealing with ethical commercial galleries that pay artists fair commissions and provide good authentication.

Five major auction houses have jumped on the Aboriginal art bandwagon, with Sotheby's garnering most of the business. Sotheby's has one major Aboriginal art auction a year with previews in London, Paris and New York. Sotheby's and Christie's buy only from Aboriginal art centers, but the Australian auction house Lawson Menzies works with a broader range of sources, and 2 percent of all sale proceeds goes to an independent foundation to benefit Aboriginal communities.