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The dotted motifs of much of today's Aboriginal modern design work has become
the trademark of the contemporary Aboriginal Art movement. Its iconic status
developed from a culture stretching back into the history of an ancient land,
evolving and weaving into desert dreamtime stories. Some of the symbols used in Aboriginal
art appear to be the same, but can mean different things, such as the circle symbol
and when viewed in monochrome the symbol can look similar, such as the circles within circles, sometimes
depicted on its own, sparsely or in clustered groups.
When this symbol is used
and depending on the Aboriginal tribe you belong to, it can vary
in meaning from campfire, tree, hill, digging hole, waterhole or spring. It use
of the symbol can be clarified further by the use of colour, with water often
being depicted as blue.
Whatever the meaning, interpretations of the symbols
should be taken in context of the entire painting, the region from
which the artist originates from, the story behind the painting, the style of the painting, with additional clues being
the colours used in some of the more modern works.
Check out the interpretation of the following symbols for tools and weapons used
by Aboriginal people. |
