Located at Melbourne's Federation Square is the well-known
Ian Potter gallery with its free Aboriginal Art collection.
I'm going to start my research here in this museum as
the Ian Potter foundation offers a wide range of books, sculptures, paintings
and historical material all about Australian's traditional art of the
aborigines culture.
You are even allowed to take pictures but without flashlight!
This very detailed art form is all about lines but
mostly about dots and circles. It is somehow mind-blowing when you stand in
front of one of these HUGE canvas painting all made by hand with a small wooden
stick.
Visible are the various styles: Sometimes very large
dots, lines and points and some paintings or sculptures are very tiny and
detailed including different colour combinations. Very common are, as I call
them, "earth colours" such as all sorts of brown, orange, beige,
olive green as well as dark blue, a darker red and to keep up the contrast:
Black & white.
"The power of the dot"
The pattern or textures are held very close to each
other, left out space is also used to form shapes, separated by " dotted"
lines. One dot isn't as powerful as many dots on little space. This reminds me
of a theory I read in my old university at the London College of Communication:
"You can always ripe one piece of paper in half
as it is weak, but can you do the same if you have 100 or even less on top of
each other? Together we are strong is the motto". One
Meaning
Aboriginal art is all about the story behind the
painting, forms, pattern and shapes. The main point of these creations are
stories about their history, their past, present, future, about dreams, nature,
animals, symbolism, Australian landscape, myth-stories, or simply their life.
Visualising stories or language and adventures in a
very playful and artistic way can be a strong tool in art & design. Never
underestimate the viewer’s imagination when it comes to associations. In other
words, the audience can make connections between something their learned or
experience and shapes, drawings and forms. Every single aboriginal artwork will
take you on a journey and has more to tell than what's visible to the eye.
In my case I would like to find out more about this
specific style and how it would work if you apply it to other topics, objects
and styles.
"Austria meets Australia"
The purpose of this project is to bring this authentic
art and style from "down under" to an European country such as
Austria in order to show other people who are not familiar with these
traditions or even can't afford to go around the globe but still want to
experience the history of Australia's oldest culture. Bringing a piece of
tradition from the other side of the world home, makes our world a little bit
smaller and at a convenient distance to open our minds and be respectful to
other ways of living under different circumstances than ours.
Understanding a culture and a way of life will open up
a deeper understanding for other people conditions, needs and maybe even help
or support in certain fields for example economy, health or education in the
future.
However, at the moment I'm experiencing the aboriginal
stories, but I keep thinking: what stories my hometown Graz or even Austria in
general has to offer in order to visualise them?
This could be already an interesting topic to apply
this style in a modern context but at the same time it is important not to
wonder too far off my main topic: Australia>> which includes all the
nature we don't have in Europe such as Koalas, Kangaroos, sting rays,...etc.
The list is endless and needs to be well thought threw and simplified.
Materials
Where and how can we apply this decorative style to
our every day life?
This could include areas such as sculpture, furniture,
fashion, accessorize, interior design,...etc. which I still have to think of.
It could even be an advanced version of my previous creations in terms of
pillows and t-shirts.
Production
Additionally to my illustration process need to be
thought threw the "making process".
What technique will be used to produce?
What materials will be accessible or needed?
etc...
"Form follows function"
Surface design -Shapes, pattern & colour
...are very simple over all. It mainly depends on the
constellation of them and exploring new combinations and colour contrasts. This
might be an opportunity to even invent my own shapes and textures a journey
into surface design.
All of the drawings of animals or humans are 2D flat
or profile without any depth or shadows. These restrictions are the grid or my
rules in this journey. This will lead my design process in an even more
interesting direction than if anything would be possible.
Dots, circle, lines, space, colour and shapes will be
my concept in order to visualise my journey in Australia.
Why so serious?
One thing I came across throughout my research and
exploring process was that lines don’t need to be straight or animals
"perfectly" drawn. The illustrations I looked at came closer to "kids
drawings" where it's all about the personal touch and simplicity in order
to recognise an animal for example. Humanity has priority!
It is fascinating how abstract certain objects;
animals or human drawings can be but still be recognizable. This style even
reminds me a little bit of Picasso's style ^^
Organic or geometric?
The last thing I came across was the arrangement or
classification into organic-round shapes or either geometric triangle or square
forms.
I have to say that I'm choosing the organic area this
time as my last exhibition in August 2012 was about triangle and Aztec style.
Go to : kristin.amsonnendeck.at
