I feel the need to apologize to the Australian Aboriginal people for depicting them through paintings and images without adhering to their spiritual beliefs. However, I was compelled to do so in order to raise awareness about their civilization in Italy and to highlight their importance and greatness. For this reason, albeit belatedly, I ask for permission to continue exploring this artistic path, which serves solely to spread—without any profit—the message of the ancient Aboriginal civilization, a message that has endured for 60,000 years.

Domenico Palombo

The Australian Aborigines are the indigenous peoples of Australia, present on the continent for at least 60,000 years, representing the oldest living culture and civilization in the world. Their culture and society are extremely rich, diverse, and closely connected to the land and nature, with a strong spiritual bond to the earth, which they consider part of their identity and cosmology.

Culture and Traditions

Aboriginal culture is based on a deep connection with the land, with every element of nature (animals, plants, rocks, rivers, etc.) holding spiritual significance. The Aborigines live in the Dreamtime, a mythical dimension that tells the story of the creation of the world and establishes spiritual and social laws. These myths and legends are passed down orally through stories, dances, music, rock paintings, and sculptures.

Art

Aboriginal art is one of the most well-known aspects of their culture and reflects their connection to the land and the Dreamtime. Traditional art forms include bark paintings, rock engravings, body paintings, and sculptures. One of the most iconic techniques is dot painting, which often depicts mythological stories or maps of the land. The relevance and modernity of these art forms have not yet been fully recognized by the avant-garde artistic movements.

In this ancient saying (58,000 years before Christ), which originates from the Australian Aborigines, we find the essence of Australian spirituality:

WE ARE ALL VISITORS TO THIS TIME, THIS PLACE. WE ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH. OUR PURPOSE HERE IS TO OBSERVE, TO LEARN, TO GROW, TO LOVE… AND THEN, WE RETURN HOME.