TRADITIONAL aboriginal art will come to the fore in Bahrain tomorrow night at the opening of the Songlines art exhibition at the La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art, Manama.
According to event organisers, aboriginal art is more of a ritual involving mystery and symbolism, than purely artistic expression.
The art is described as “dreamings” and narrates stories and history of tribes.
They are the story of creation, about life, people and animals of the tribe and are passed on within a clan through a combination of music, painting, dance and singing.
The exhibition is being organised in association with the Warlukurlangu Artists’ Aboriginal Corporation, one of world’s premier aboriginal art centres and a fully aborigine-owned and governed art centre.
Warlukurlangu means “belonging to fire” in the aboriginal language of Warlpiri, and is named after a Fire Dreaming west of the region of Yuendumu.
Centre director Cecilia Alfonso will be at La Fontaine for opening night.
Aboriginal music also unites consciousness with the invisible laws and energy patterns of nature.
Aboriginal art is perhaps most accurately described as a method for gaining knowledge of nature and its invisible “dreaming”.
An example is the playing of the didgeridoo, a long wooden flute, one of the oldest musical instruments.
The opening night will feature a fusion concert where Australia-based band Didgericruise will present music on Australian didgeridoo, African drum and guitar.
The trio’s aim is to move people by creating an original sound that transcends music genre, instrumentation and culture.
The exhibition will open at 7pm ahead of the concert at 8pm.
Tickets are BD20, while tickets for the exhibition, concert and dinner are BD30.
Contact 17230123 e-mail info@lafontaineartcentre.net or visit www.lafontaineartcentre.net for more information.
