(Also featured in World Architecture News: Metroblogs on 29/01/2013)
There are many different types of Aboriginal artworks. But not many have inspired us to see them as ‘architectural spaces’ as much as the collection of ‘Living Water’ at National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).
“Aboriginal people from across the Western Desert use the term ‘living water’ to describe water sources, including rock holes and soakage waters that are fed by underground springs. The path of these springs was created by the ancestral beings of the tjukurrpa (dreaming) as they themselves journeyed underground, their entry into the earth often marking the site of current day water sources. ‘Living water’ is revered also because it does not seem to be affected by the harsh conditions above the ground that the people themselves have to endure.”
The above excerpt from the exhibit description mentions about underground spaces being inspiration for these painting and it was very evident in each artwork. The patterns of lines, circles and curves all give a spacial character transferable to an actual built form. Some suggested an area diagram, while others a 2-dimensional drawing. At some point, we started looking at the paintings as plan or section of a space and that made the viewing even more interesting. It was like going on a special studio of basic design to draw inspiration from objects around you.
Below are some photographs of the artwork that inspired us the most.
“Aboriginal people from across the Western Desert use the term ‘living water’ to describe water sources, including rock holes and soakage waters that are fed by underground springs. The path of these springs was created by the ancestral beings of the tjukurrpa (dreaming) as they themselves journeyed underground, their entry into the earth often marking the site of current day water sources. ‘Living water’ is revered also because it does not seem to be affected by the harsh conditions above the ground that the people themselves have to endure.”
The above excerpt from the exhibit description mentions about underground spaces being inspiration for these painting and it was very evident in each artwork. The patterns of lines, circles and curves all give a spacial character transferable to an actual built form. Some suggested an area diagram, while others a 2-dimensional drawing. At some point, we started looking at the paintings as plan or section of a space and that made the viewing even more interesting. It was like going on a special studio of basic design to draw inspiration from objects around you.
Below are some photographs of the artwork that inspired us the most.
'Living Water' is on display until 3 Feb 2013 at NGV. They also have a paperback publication Living Water: Contemporary Art of the Far Western Desert on their shelf for those who would like to keep the inspirational memories with them forever.
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