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Bark painting |
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A very popular technique of painting in Australia is known as Bark painting which is a prominent Aboriginal form of art which involves painting on the inner strip of a bark. This is a prevalent style of painting in Arnhem Land and some parts in the Top End comprising the areas in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Bark painting, which was ephemeral, was created originally for ceremonial and educational purposes and at present, it is adored a lot by the art institutions and collectors.
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The designs put on an original Bark painting feature typical designs that the artist himself conceptualizes or belong to his clan, these designs being possible to be painted only by the artist. Though the designs featured on the bark paintings are old enough, the method of painting on a flat bark is a comparatively recent trend. The foremost proof of a Bark painting belongs to 1930s when the Milingimbi and Yirrkala missionaries demanded from the Yonglu population in the area to create bark paintings for selling them in Victoria and New South Wales. The missionaries actually aimed at earning money for their missions and to enlighten the white population about the culture of the Yonglu population. With the growth and increasing demand for the bark paintings, famous artists like Narritjin Maymuru were begun to be asked to plan for exhibitions.
Bark paintings were began to be considered as a form of fine art and were valued quite high on the international market for art. The evaluation of a proper Bark painting is at present done on the basis talent and popularity of the artist, quality of the painting, and the extent to which the painting reveals the culture through a time-honored story. The minimum requirements for creating a Bark painting include brushes, paints, adhesive and fire. Stringybark without any marks or knots is preferred for doing this type of painting. Usually earthen shades like red, black and yellow, which are manganese or iron oxides, and calcium carbonate or white pipeclay are used in Bark painting. The bark is supported on both the ends after the painting is finished and an adhesive like orchid juice, is spread over it. The holy designs on the basis of white the bark paintings are done include nonrepresentational designs and patterns, the common elements of these paintings being the depiction of men and beasts, and often representational. “Outside” stories like the child stories are permitted to be represented by the amateur artists while “inside” stories can be painted by an experienced artist. Only the Yonglu can fully perceive what a traditional Bark painting is, as the Yonglu culture and language include thoughts and words that are entirely foreign to other cultures. The characteristic features that one needs to understand a Bark painting include, border, ground, dividing lines, “feature blocks”, geometric designs, figurative designs, clan designs, and cross-hatching. Some of the famous bark painters who are known worldwide comprise Narritjin Maymuru, John Mawurndjul, Paddy Dhathangu, Binyinyuwuy, Yirawala and Djawa.
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