Why to Buy Australian Indigenous Art?

1. Why to Buy Australian Indigenous Art?

2. Australian indigenous art is collected across the world. Those who buy indigenous art comment on the influences of style from art history found in indigenous art. Yet indigenous artists live in remote outback Australia, without television, movies, galleries or museums. Here are three parallels to popular art styles to assist you to buy Australian indigenous art.

3. Impressionism began in France in the 1860’s. Famous Impressionists are Monet, Degas, Renoir and Pissarro. Impressionists capture a feeling or experience of moving light and colour on surfaces and depict the ephemeral quality of life in the here and now. The images and subjects had modernity, especially the faster pace and improvements of daily life.

4. Polly Ngale is a widely exhibited Indigenous artist that intuitively utilises impressionism in her art. Polly is a senior custodian from the Utopia region in the Northern Territory and paints the Bush Plum (Anwekety) Dreaming. The bush plum is a sweet black berry with yellow seeds that grows only a few weeks of the year on a tangled, spiny shrub. The bark from the roots is medicinal for skin and eye conditions. Her works also draw from the knowledge of her ancestral journey.

5. Naïve Art is best known for a childlike simplicity in subject and technique, often produced by self-taught artists with little formal training. In French ‘naïve’ has Latin roots meaning natural and native. Naïve art is simple, fresh and spontaneous, bursting with colour, excitement and humour. However the artist uses painstaking detail to achieve a uniquely literal perspective of a tale, event, ritual, ceremony or landscape.

6. Famous naïve painters are Henri Rousseau and Grandma Moses (her work ‘The Pond’ shown below), however naïve artists are found all over the world - in France, Africa, England, Eastern Europe, Russia, Israel, North and South America.

7. And in Australia as seen in the wonderful naïve artworks of Dinny Kunoth Kemarre. Dinny is renowned for his paintings of bush football and horse racing, in which he tells a story of modern Indigenous life in outback Australia. Bush football is popular in the Utopia region of Northern Territory where they emulate the AFL’s teams. The annual Harts Range Races is the subject for his horse racing paintings as seen in this engaging and entertaining art work.

8. Art Nouveau is a style of decorative art that uses intricate linear designs, curving lines and flowing organic shapes based on natural forms including plants and flowers. Art Nouveau originated in Europe in the late 19th century and literally means ‘new art’. Art Nouveau led to the Art Deco phase popular in the 20th Century. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was famous for his Moulin Rouge, Art Nouveau style and Gustav Klimt for his detailed floral paintings, such as ‘Farm Garden’ 1906 shown below.

9. Native Australian flowers shown with an art nouveau undertone feature in the works of Indigenous artists Janice Clarke Kngwarreye and Lily Lion Kngwarrey who both belong to the traditional countries Ngkwarlerlanem and Arnkawenyerr. Janice’s Dreamtime stories are the sweet honey grevillea and the Alpeyt or acacia flower.

10. Lily’s Indigenous art works have been exhibited around the world since 1977. She uses very fine dot work and delicate brush strokes with intricate shades of colour. Her Dreaming tells stories of the acacia flower, seeds and leaves. The seeds are ground into paste for making native bread.

11. To buy Australian indigenous art visit online gallery Art to Art and view a wide selection of reputable Australian indigenous art sold with certificates of authenticity. The team at Art to Art can assist you to buy indigenous art for your art collection and lasting enjoyment.

12. Contact us 130 Bulleen Road, Balwyn North VIC 3104 Australia P. 03 9859 6040 M. 0413 945 249 enquiries@arttoart.com.au http://arttoart.com.au/