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The contention of this study is that contemporary
art has a significantly different role in its importance to the urban
Indigenous of Australia compared to the rather nonexistent relationship
it has to the broader, urban, Non-Indigenous community. This research
aims to explore the elements of contemporary, urban Indigenous art exploring
the social issues often portrayed within the art and how this contextualized
component of cultural expression impacts upon urban Aboriginal Australians.
Art is an important component of society as it offers a creative outlet
for personal, social and cultural expression. Contemporary art is socially
significant as it is a genre which promotes free expression including
the illustration of social issues and problems allowing for individuals,
communities and cultural groups to voice their opinion helping establish
an awareness of differing perspectives. The comparison between the connection
that contemporary art has with the urban indigenous and the urban non-indigenous
has allowed the researcher to gauge how culture, economic background and
prejudice restrict or allow an individual to connect with art.
Contemporary art to the urban non-indigenous community is somewhat irrelevant
as opportunities, interest and awareness does not appear to exist. The
attitudes presented by the urban non-indigenous concerning contemporary
art contain stereotypical assumption that art is commonly segregated to
the “elite” and “rich” within society. But is this true that Western Sydney
communities have stereotyped art into an institutionalized and disconnected
element of the “upper class”? The interest urban non-indigenous communities
have for contemporary art is very low as the social themes and issues
portrayed within the artworks are considerably different across socio-economic
backgrounds. However the connection that contemporary art has to the urban
indigenous community appears to be stronger due to the cultural connection
that artistic expression has to the Aboriginal population. But is the
dreaming and the past all that makes up contemporary Indigenous artwork?
Urban contemporary Indigenous art does contain elements of tradition but
issues of modern society are included in order to display injustice and
inequality as a part of the Indigenous Australian culture. Therefore contemporary
art has a profound relationship with the urban indigenous community as
this form of expression is believed to be an outlet for racial tension
which allows for an accurate detail of the past establishing a sense of
reinforcement of cultural importance.
The different relationship that contemporary art has between the urban
Indigenous community and the urban non-Indigenous community symbolizes
the cultural significance that artistic expression can have. Societal
views have consistently recognized that Indigenous culture have a strong
link with art and accept the idea of contemporary art having a more significant
importance to this group within society in contrast to the broader urban
community. Contemporary art acts as a theoretical component of society
as it offers differing connections and abilities to various cultures and
social classes.
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