ART

We have been given permission from Aunty Joy, and Aunty Irene, local Wurundjeri Elders to use these symbols.

Aboriginal Art has survived for over thousands of years and continues to be one of the oldest art forms practiced today.

Aboriginal Art consists of symbols. These symbols were used as a means of communication; communication of their lives on earth, their rituals, food, customs and also to show constellations and for ritual decorations. These works were almost always ceremonial or religious.

Symbols were used in order to show the presence of different things or objects that existed around them. Aboriginal artists created their works based on how the land was created, basing their subject matter mainly on patterns and animals.

Thousands of years ago, Aboriginals would create their works using only the natural materials left around them, (such as bark, clay, logs, trees, burnt sticks, rocks, etc....

These patterns and symbols were created using only the colours seen in nature, (for instance soil, was seen in tints of reds, yellows and browns ochres. White, clay and charcoal colours were also used from natural materials.

2021 National NAIDOC Poster

The 2021 National NAIDOC Poster, ‘Care for Country’ was designed by Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie-Jean Douglas.

Using the 2021 NAIDOC Week theme, Heal Country!, as inspiration, ‘Care for Country’ is a bright and vibrant artwork which explores how Country has cared for and healed First Nations people spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and culturally.

The artwork includes communities, people, animals and bush medicines spread over different landscapes of red dirt, green grass, bush land and coastal areas to tell the story of the many ways Country can and has healed us throughout our lives and journeys.

Find out more about the story behind the 2021 National NAIDOC Poster and download your copy of the poster today.