What is Aboriginal dot painting?
Dot painting is a style of Aboriginal art made with many small dots of paint, closely associated with artists of the Central and Western Desert. It became widely known after the Papunya Tula movement began in 1971.
Desert artists traditionally created designs in sand, on bodies and on ceremonial objects, often using dots, circles and lines to represent places, journeys, waterholes and ancestral beings. Painting with acrylics on canvas brought these designs into a new, permanent form.
Some artists say that dots were also used to hide sacred details, allowing them to share stories publicly without revealing secret knowledge.
Not all Aboriginal art is dots
Dot painting is only one of many Aboriginal art styles. Arnhem Land bark painting, Kimberley ochre painting, Torres Strait printmaking and southeastern art each have their own traditions.
Artists such as Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri and Emily Kame Kngwarreye became internationally famous.
Buyers are encouraged to buy from Aboriginal-owned art centres or reputable galleries that follow the Indigenous Art Code, so that artists are paid fairly and works are authentic. Many art centres provide certificates describing the artist and the story behind each painting.
Today dot painting is practised by artists across Australia, and its bold patterns appear in fashion, design and public art. Desert communities such as Yuendumu, Balgo and the APY Lands remain major centres for the style.
Did You Know?
Fake Aboriginal-style art has been a problem, leading to campaigns and laws to protect artists.