Australian Art

Australian art was first created by European settlers, that is why it was almost like European art, the same styles, materials, motives and ways of painting. (Of course, the very first art in Australia was created by Aborigines who drew with pieces of chalk on stone.)  

European settlers first made paintings of nature, animals and of Aborigines. The colours used in the

pictures were similar to those of European artists. In the end of 19^th century Australian artists copied the impressionistic style from France, and for the first time they were internationally respected in the nineteen-fourties. From the fourties to the sixties they mainly made expressionistic paintings. Both styles occurred in Australia about thirty years later than in Europe.

Nowadays Australian artists are inspired by Asian culture and by Asian artists of the neighbouring countries.

Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal art is one of the oldest art traditions in the world. About 40.000 years ago Aborigines began with rock paintings and now they are doing big modern projects based on their traditional culture.

In the beginning they used natural materials like stone, wood and sand to create their pictures. They also painted on their bodies and created ceremonial clothes. They painted to show their knowledge – because to them knowledge was more important than the possession of goods.

Aborigines also make a difference between the art inspired from their spirit and soul - and ordinary art. Only people having enough spirit and knowledge can see and understand the deep sense of the first, while ordinary art can be understood by everyone.

Since 1975 aboriginal artists use their style to fight against racism and against the unfair treatment by white people.

For example Robert Campbell junior is famous for his pictures and projects against racism since 1987.

Gordon Bennet painted a traditional Aboriginal man into a motive by van Gogh. So he attacked European art metaphorically because he changed the picture of an icon of western art.

Australian Film

In 1896 the first cinema of the country opened – this and the first feature film in 1906 was the beginning of a great and big film industry in the 20^th century. Up to 1930 250 silent films were produced. From 1930 to 1968 there was a crisis in Australian film industry, because film industry in Great Britain and the United States was more profitable and made more famous films. Although this crisis was hard more Australian film companies were foundet during this time.

Charles Chauvel produced the first Australian colour film, “Jedda”, a drama mostly performed by Aborigines.

In 1996 the Australian government spent money for the film industry, so in the following years Australian films were successful and famous all over the world, dealing with subjects of Australian life and history.

In 1999 Fox Sudios opened a studio in Sydney and films like “Mission Impossible” and “Star War Episode 3” were produced there. Although Australia nowadays is a good location for filming there are not many smaller Australian film studios.

Famous actors from Australia are Heath Ledger (“Batman”), Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman (the two of them for example in the film drama “Australia”) and Mel Gibson, one of the most successful actors and film directors (“Mad Max”, “Braveheart”).

Another world-famous and successful Australian film director is Peter Weir (* 1944 in Sydney) who is a celebrity in Hollywood, too. He made some films dealing with Australian history like “Gallipoli” (about Australian Soldiers in World War I ), “Picnic at Hanging Rock”, the “The Last Wave” ( about Aboriginal prophecy myths ) and also well-known films like “Dead Poets Society”, “Master and Commander” with Russel Crowe and “Green Card” with Gerard Depardieu.