‘Aboriginal art should not be classified as primitive’

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 27

‘Aboriginal art should not be classified as primitive’

NZPA-AAP Sydney International art organisations and museums which classify Aboriginal art as “primitive” misunderstand its significance and value, says the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Clyde Holding. Mr Holding told the annual conference of the Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material (1.C.C.M.) in Sydney that Aboriginal art was unique. Some examples in the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory were more than 20,000 years old, pre-dating ancient Egyptian art by 15,000 years. What made Aboriginal art unique, he said, was that it was “part of an on-going and contemporary culture” that was still evolving. “That exists nowhere else

in the world yet, as I say, it is one of our best-kept secrets.” By classifying Aboriginal art as primitive, museums and galleries had failed to recognise its dynamic and contemporary nature. It was only recently that the predominantly white community had begun to understand its importance. The Federal Government was moving quickly to ensure that the “mindless degradation and depredation” of sacred Aboriginal sites and heritage ceased. Mr Holding said he soon hoped to introduce temporary legislation to conserve these sites, which were not adequately protected by existing state legislation. Art conservators needed to develop an understanding and appreciation of Aborigi-

nal society in which culture played such a significant part. Mr Holding said that many inappropriate conservation methods were being used. The I.C.C.M. conference, “Conservation and Contemporary Art,” examined techniques used in conserving contemporary art and culture. Conservators, curators, collectors, artists, gallery personnel, educators, and crafts-people from throughout Australia attended. The I.C.C.M.’s president, Mr lan Cook, said the institute agreed to establish a sub-committee to investigate how it could best assist the preservation of Aboriginal art, and how to make the best use of available resources.