Aborigines used dot painting as a way of telling a story and recording ritual practices, passing on the stories verbally as well as through music and art. They would use the pictures as a guide as they told the story. Didgeridoo players often played music as the storytellers told their tales. Often times the stories depicted were secret, and only certain members of the tribe were allowed to know the contents (these were usually ones that depicted ritual practices). So, they would paint dots all over the picture as a form of camouflage. One of the most common stories told in dot paintings is the Aboriginal creation story –Dreamtime. Truly, it is fitting as the pictures, as well as the didgeridoo music, have a dreamy quality to them.
Even it has been two weeks since Grade 6 and 7 students studied Aboriginal Art, I thought it would be interesting to see their interpretations of Dot Painting.
Claire
Willem
Matthew
Sophie
Anton
Trisha
Chloe
Aisha
Michael
Mohammed
Jed
David
Teja
Macy
