Australian Studies: Indigenous Australian Art

This topic introduces students to some of the many aspects of contemporary Aboriginal and Islander visual arts and crafts within their historical and social contexts. The effect of non-Indigenous stylistic, critical and other influences and the pressures of the market-place in the production of art-for-sale are also underlying themes that are covered in this topic.

The major areas of study covered include the pre-contact origins of contemporary Aboriginal visual art; regional diversity; appropriationand copyright; change and continuity; marketing; the impact of museums and exhibitions; and the effects of the market and tourism on contemporary Aboriginal art. Opportunities exist for students to use the Flinders University Art Museum as a research resource and there are also opportunities to attend exhibitions and meet practising Aboriginal artists.

Texts: 

Nicholls, Christine Art, History, Place 2003 Information book

Nicholls, Christine Art, Land, Story 2003 Non-fiction