Aboriginal Identity and Art Practices : Examining the Cultural Connection of Female Contemporary Aboriginal Artists and its Artistic Expression

The Aboriginal art market has received significantly increased interest from non-Aboriginal audiences, but Aboriginal identity and art are still not understood by non-Aboriginal people. The colonial impacts continue challenging the evolving Aboriginal identity and art practices in navigating its intersecting factors. Through interview case studies and data collection, this study aims to understand the contemporary female Aboriginal artists’ identity and how that reflects in their art. It investigates the changes in Aboriginal art in material, concept and sustainability while examining the perspective of younger generations on these changes. The findings reveal that Aboriginal identity has evolved into a diverse and complex construct influenced by politics, race, gender, class, etc. With cultural disconnection due to colonisation and increasing urban migration, contemporary Aboriginal art has evolved into a hybrid form of Western and Aboriginal art. The findings show that material use, concept and sustainability in Aboriginal art have changed significantly, and the younger generations are happy with more diverse and innovative art practices yet concerned about the continuation of the lack of Aboriginal heritage recognition. This thesis is an interdisciplinary study in the fields of heritage studies, post-colonial studies and art history. It highlights the multifaceted Aboriginal identity and art by showing the limitless dynamic of contemporary Aboriginal art practices. It discusses the importance of better understanding among non-Aboriginal people. The study contributes to amplifying the voices of the young generation of female contemporary Aboriginal artists and their goal of reaching a bigger audience to share and teach their heritage.