Bark painting is an Australian Aboriginal art form themed on primitive religion to express their understanding of the world and record their history and legends. The rich contents of bark painting reflect the faith, lifestyle and customs of the Aboriginals, show distinct characteristics of the Australian primitive arts and can be regarded as an encyclopedia of images that depict the spiritual world and cultural traditions of the Australian Aboriginals. The materials for bark paintings are all from nature, with peeled bark as canvas and ochre as pigment. Over hundreds of years of evolution, the extraordinary imagination and the great vitality of this unique artistic expression of bark painting remain undiminished. It’s not only loved by the Australian Aboriginals, but also of irresistible fascination for the urban citizens in modern civilization.
The exhibition will showcase the Aboriginal artists who live at Arnhem Land of the Peninsula Region on the Northern Territory coastline of Australia and their bark paintings. It consists of three parts by region, showcasing artists from the Eastern, Central and Western Arnhem Land and their bark paintings in distinct styles. Among the exhibits are 122 bark paintings, 32 wood carvings, painting materials and tools.