Literatur in unserem Bestand
(A-L)

Berndt, Ronald M., Berndt, Catherine H. und Stanton, John E.: Aboriginal Australian Art: A visual perspective, Methuen Australia, Richmond, 1988 (1. Aufl. 1982, 4. Aufl. 1998 New Holland Publishers, ISBN 1876334029), ISBN 0454002769

Inhaltsverzeichnis        ¦         Klappentext        ¦         Buchbesprechung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of Plates -7-

Acknowledgements -12-

Preface -14-

Chapter One: Perspectives and Meaning -17-

Art as a reflection of nature -21-

A spirit-based art -24-

A land-based art -25-

Art as social -28-

Art and style -32-

Art and communication -40-

Chapter Two: Living Traditional Art -47-

A religious tradition -49-

Painting -51-

Drawings -72-

Chapter Three: More about Living Traditional Art -81-

Sculpture -84-

Saced figures -88-

Mortuary figures and posts -92-

Chapter Four: Art in Everyday Affairs -103-

Other carving and modelling -104-

Chapter Five: More Art in Everyday Affairs -113-

Domestic art -114-

Chapter Six: Changing Directions -125-

Alien pressures -127-

The trend in innovative art -128-

Working through a European medium -128-

The trend away from traditional forms -136-

Stemming the deterioration of Aboriginal art -140-

Renascene of Aboriginal art -143-

Survival of Aboriginal art -145-

Descriptive Annotations to the Plates -147-

Bibliography -169-

Name Index -173-

Subject Index -174-

Klappentext

Australian Aboriginal Art: a visual perspective is a thoughtful and authoritative consideration of the place of Aboriginal art within its own traditional settings, and the contribution of such art, not only to the Aboriginal heritage, but also to the cultural heritage of the wider Australian society. This book does not merely illustrate the diversity of paintings, drawings and carvings. It encourages the reader toward a greater appreciation and understanding of what the Aborigines have achieved. Mythology and ritual are an integral part of all Aboriginal art. The visible tangible source of inspiration is the natural environment, especially the land. The spirit-based traditional view of the world, now as in the past, emphasizes the Aborigines’ close relationship with the land and all within it. So, an underlying theme of the book is the resilience of Aboriginal art and its continuing survival, set againgst a changing environment, along with the emergence of innovative Aboriginal art. By taking seriously into account the colourful mythology and symbolism, the meaning of the art produtions, their design and patterning, and their intent and purpose, we come close to appreciating what they mean to the Aboriginal people concerned - and what they could conceivably mean to others as well, although in a different way. Impressive as some of the art is, what appears in this book is only one part - the publicly visible part - of what was and still is available in the Aboriginal heritage of visual art. Other outstanding items remain within the sphere of ‘closed’ religious art that is not available for general inspection and so cannot be reproduced here. However, many of the works illustrated in this book are comparable to the great masterpieces of the world of art, a world in which they are firmly entrenched and are increasingly being recognized as being so. Aboriginal art has long passed out to the narrow confines of ‘primitive’ or ‘ethnic’ art. Each plate is fully annotated and described. This is a book that is informative as well as exciting, relevant to everyone interested in art. It should appeal to all readers who are interested in living and changing art forms - and to all who wish to go beyond the simple impact of spectacular design.