“The more you know, the less you need.“
– Australian Aboriginal saying
Today, I had the chance to attend a talk and learn about the deep Indigenous connection to a nearby nature reserve. Since moving to Australia, I have come to understand just how important storytelling, songs, and connection to Country are in Aboriginal culture. This experience showed me how Indigenous traditions are passed down orally and visually—through songs, rock paintings, and symbols that carry deep meaning.
In Aboriginal culture, the land—often called Country—is more than just a place; it is a living, spiritual entity. Every rock, river, and tree is connected to ancestors, and art plays a big role in expressing this bond. Aboriginal paintings, carvings, and ceremonial designs are not just decoration—they are maps, messages, and records of history, keeping stories alive for tens of thousands of years.
Storytelling and art are closely connected, with many stories coming from the Dreamtime—the time when ancestral beings shaped the land and created laws. These stories aren’t written down but are passed on through songlines, ceremonies, and paintings, ensuring knowledge is shared while respecting sacred traditions.
But Aboriginal art isn’t only about the past—it is a living tradition that continues to grow while staying connected to the land, ancestors, and identity. Learning about this has given me a new appreciation for the richness of Indigenous culture.
This also makes me wonder—how can we use these ideas in our own culture? Aboriginal artists tell their stories, record history, and connect to their heritage through art. Maybe we can do the same by using abstract art to share our own experiences. We express the major events that shaped us. These be joyful or painful. They can be shared through color, shapes, and symbols. This tells stories that words sometimes can’t.
Art is a universal language, and by using abstraction, we can create something personal yet deeply meaningful.
The photo below shows part of an artist’s story—her Mob’s totem and her family—which can be found in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, ACT.
Thank you for taking the time to read! Now, if you will excuse me, my canvas is calling. Time to bring some stories to life through art!
Kat
KitKatArt 