Rattling Spears: A History of Indigenous Australian Art

by Ian McLean

Large, bold, and colorful, indigenous Australian art—sometimes known as Aboriginal art—has made an indelible impression on the contemporary art scene. But it is controversial, dividing the artists, purveyors, and collectors from those who smell a scam. Whether the artists are victims or victors, there is no denying the impact of their work in the media, on art collectors and the art world at large, and on our global imagination. How did Australian art become the most successful indigenous form in the world? How did its artists escape the ethnographic and souvenir markets to become players in an art market to which they had historically been denied access? Beautifully illustrated, this full stunning account not only offers a comprehensive introduction to this rich artistic tradition, but also makes us question everything we have been taught about contemporary art.

Genres: Art, Art History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2016

About the author

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Reviews

[sam howie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read and convincing argument unpacking an Indigenous Australian art history that situates Indigenous artists as the first Australian Modernist artists. An important read, obviously, for those interested in Australian art history, but also for those interested in anthropological and cultural studies as McLean demonstrates some of the ways Indigenous Australians artistically responded to colonisation.