A brilliant and informative article I found by Bernice Murphy called 'Transforming Culture : Indigenous Art and Australian Art Museum' that is very recent, written this year.
It talks about the progress that Indigeous Art has made and the importance and priority it has in Australian art galleries and museums. The article cover the way that it used to be seen as 'primitive art' in a scientific context.
In the 1980's thought - because of the rising attention of metropolitan areas and the supportive work of locally based artists in Indigenous communities, there were changes that started happening in terms of the way that Aboriginal art was presented and engaged with in public galleries and museums.
Indigenous curators and similar are growing more and more present in galleries.
More attention is put on finding out the correct information about artworks from an indigenous perspective, creativity and presence.
Indigenous Art was increased in profile in state galleries and institutions in the 1908's and 90's.
Murphy comments 'In comparison with the collective anonymity and obscurity of cultural production in remote Aboriginal communities on the edge of Australian public awareness in their youth, their works had moved into potential forums of of international recognition as artists, positioned in dialogue within the great and diverse traditions of the world. This is a great achievemnet within a generation!'
There has been huge responses to Aboriginal art internationally.
Cross-cultural changes are being made through the urban artists travelling and forming relationships with elders and artists in communities with a still active rural life.
There is now a tremendous amount of approachs available for the presentation and intepretation of Indigenous art - and all are treated with esteem and respect within the mainstream of art appreciation.
