The art works being created by modern Aborigines carry within them 50,000 years of myth and tradition. They are contemporary, yet traditional. It�s today but it is timeless. Attaching a label to modern Aboriginal art can be as difficult as establishing the meaning behind the symbols. But it does provide us with a unique cultural vision of old Australia, as deep and enduring as any on earth. Aboriginal rock art is recognized as the world�s oldest and longest continuous living tradition. How they help spawn modern day world-famous Aboriginal Art is a classic story.

The international explosion in popularity of Australian Aboriginal art began in the early 1970s as a spark in the Northern Territory. First in various groups in Arnhem Land and in the desert community of Papunya, west of Alice Springs. In Arnhem Land (sometimes called the Top End), missionaries encouraged tribal aboriginal people to paint their designs (derived from traditional rock art and body decoration) on bark panels stripped from trees.

Meanwhile, in central Australia, teacher Geoffrey Bardon introduced polymer paints to the desert-dwelling Aborigines who up to then only painted using natural occurring dyes. This produced an entirely new genre of art. The strongly symbolic dot style was born. The rest is history. Today, the national Gallery in Canberra, state galleries and private galleries in all major Australian cities feature desert and Top End art.