THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1950.
STONE-AGE ART FROM DOWN UNDER
FAMED modernistic painters
like
Matisse and Picasso may be uns ware of it, but they share their “'im- pressionist" style with the works left by ancestors of the aborigines of northern Australia's Amhem Land,
Their life and times are shrouded in the mist of antiquity since they left no
written language. However, theso men- of Arnhem Land painted for posterity on rocks and tree bark with reality and movement sought by today's mod- ernistic school. The words of Matisse... "A constant struggle for expression with a minimum of elements"-dc- scribe very aptly this aboriginal art..
Theso Amhem Land aborigines lod a photographic expedition to a cave which formed a natural art gallery for their ancestors. Rock paintings of coloured birds, fish and animals remain in “X-ray” design which shows hearts,
backbones and stomachs.
Ancient Paintings Depict Life of Australia's Earliest Inhabitants
THICK MUD and lurking crocodiles make crossing of East Alligator and his assistant, W. J. Harney, with bed-roll on his head. Abo- river a dangerous feat for expedition leader Charles P. Mountford rigine boys are alert with crude spears to fight off predatory game.
DRAWING depicts spirits so thin they hunt only
on calmn days. A breeze would blow them away,
DOMINATING this painted hunt scene ore kanga- roos, goanas, palm trees, pigeons and spider web.
IN THIS aboriginal "jam session, "one musician blows "didjeridoo" while mate sings, střikès sticks,
HIGH DEVELOPMENT in bark painting is achieved with hunter spoaring kangaroo, Animal in 6 ft, tall,.
THE EXPEDITION had to cross lagoons and marshes teeming with flah and wildfowl A native carries a borramundi he has speared,
A LUNCH of flying fox is shared by explorer Harney with his bearers who listen to the old stories ho tells about their country,
KEPT IN A SAGRED PERCI KWAY. Lom inga" represents the miris of its humán