Australian Aboriginal History, Art of Oceania & the Pacific, Australian & Oceanic Studies - Australia & New Zealand - Native Peoples, Queensland - History

Paint Up

Name: Paint Up
Author: Amanda Ahern
ISBN: 9780702232695

by Amanda Ahern

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Overview

Shovel-nose sharks, dingoes, the morning star and rainbows feature in 'paint-up'; the age-old practice of decorating the bodies of dancers for the corroboree. Amanda Ahern became fascinated with the distinctive body-art designs while working on Mornington Island. With a background in anthropology and visual arts, she approached the local Elders to involve the community in documenting for posterity the dancers' body-paint designs and their meaning. The result is this first-ever publication to describe in drawings, photographs and stories the unique geography of the Top End and the rich traditions and legends of the Muyinda ancestors. The practice of 'paint-up' is an expression of culture rather than art. Each body-paint design is of profound cultural significance, identifying the wearer with country, sacred sites and ancestral groups.This book is a proud document and a timely gift from the Mornington Island Elders, to be shared by everyone.

Synopsis

Paint-up is the Aboriginal Australian tradition of decorating the bodies of dancers. Each body-paint design is of cultural significance, identifying the wearer with country, sacred sites, and ancestral groups. This 11x8.5" book describes in color photos, drawings, and stories the legends surrounding paint-up designs on Mornington Island. The author is affiliated with the Woomera and Muyinda Aboriginal Corporations. The book is distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR