Contemporary Indigenous photographers

Aboriginal Art Directory | 08.11.08

A fantastic article about Indigenous photographers from COFU:

Historically Australian Indigenous art has been perceived by many to be hampered by its cultural and national perceptions. It continues to be dealt with in a way in which there is a selective reverence of spirituality and story telling. Thus disregarding its political and social history and the realities that are faced now by its people. The perception of ‘Aboriginal Art’ being confined to, painters and sculptors working in remote settlements, being classified as art from a ‘primitive culture’, ‘ritualistic’ and ‘tribal’, are restrictive and naïve considering its position within such an active contemporary arts environment.

It is more a reflection of a culture’s strong and independent heritage, a people who have experienced being marginalised from their own cultures and belief systems, yet are now transforming the process of aesthetic expression into an expression of self-determination. Contemporary Indigenous artists are re-positioning both the art and culture of proud independent and diverse Indigenous peoples within Australia’s contemporary socio-political culture and art scene.

URL: http://blogs.cofa.unsw.edu.au/blog/artwrite/Issue+40+of+Artwrite+/?permalink=contemporary-indigenous-photographers.html

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