Art lovers in Australia would likely trail along the Northern Territories to see the works and crafts by the Aborigines. The country is known for its longest continuing art tradition in the world, and here are some of the places where you can catch a glimpse of them.
There are plenty of old art sites and modern museums to cater for the culture-vulture type of tourists. Here are the places that an art lover must not miss when visiting Australia.
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Aboriginal Art Centre, Yirrkala. You can find artists sitting on the ground painting on big canvasses while some men carve wooden statues while turning them into instruments called didgeridoos or Aboriginal poles. Meanwhile, students can be seen at the site filming short movies or documentaries about the culture. According to Monica Tan of The Guardian, the quality of the artwork is extraordinary, and there is quite a boom in the representation of Buku-Larrnggay Mulka artists. Expect loads of art exhibitions here.
Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs. Head to the arts center, and you'll be greeted by a large number of colorful paintings, sculptures, and different art mediums. Pots and weavings are on display as well depicting the environment and the animals that live in the country. Don't miss the Desert Mob every September to have a glimpse of the most anticipated and important Aboriginal art and cultural events in the nation.
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. You can find various Aboriginal artworks at Uluru rocks. There's a Walkatjara Art Centre operated by the local Aboriginal artists who come to work on their art every day. Australia's Field of Light can be found in Uluru, and is available to the public up to March 2018. When visiting, keep this in mind: don't move or pick up rocks at the site. You might be cursed by the spirits there.
Potters of Hermannsburg. The indigenous people of the community make painted pottery here that features Aboriginal personalities as well as their nature. You'll find interesting works here as seen in many indigenous art centers around the country. Their terracotta works are available in a shop nearby.
Ubirr. Located in the Kakadu National Park, this place is known for its rock art and paintings that are over 1,000 years old. Tourists can find illustrations of catfish, turtles, and wallabies, too. The main gallery of the park has the famed X-Ray Art, a depiction of the Mimi spirits and other animals that have been extinct over 2,000 years ago. Visit the most sacred site of Ubirr which is the Rainbow Serpent Gallery and hear stories of the country's Rainbow Serpent.
If art-loving tourists want to go there, you'll be observing some rules to respect the Aboriginal community and their way of life. And, remember; just buy authentic Aboriginal art to show your love and appreciation.
