A bark painting depicting an unknown creature in white paint on a black background that fills almost the entire panel. Bark painting is an Australian Aboriginal art form and paintings are traditionally created for instructional and ceremonial functions. The figure in the painting is spotted over its entire body, with long limbs and a tail. There are several prominent protrusions, notably at the elbows and on top of the head. It is likely the art was created on a section of stringybark and the underside of the painting is unprocessed, showing the grain of the wood, but it cannot be confirmed for this specimen.
- Catalog Number:
- 400520 -DSP
- Object/Specimen Description:
- Specimen Count:
- 1
- Locality:
- Oceania Region (NZ, Australia, Samoa, Fiji, Micronesia, Melanesia)
- Collecting Locality:
- Australia, Australia
- Special Instructions:
- Only available digitally
- Location:
- Collection Wall
Baule woodcarvers at work, Yagolikro village, Ivory Coast
Photograph by Eliot Elisofon, 1972. Image no. EEPA EECL 6900. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
Humans have always manipulated their environment, whether by acquiring food, making and using tools, or other aspects of daily life. They are constantly interacting with their environment on a daily basis. By using the available materials, humans have created shelter, made tools, created containers and vessels, and produced items of personal and cultural significance. Many of these resources are naturally occurring, such as stones, minerals, animal bones, or organic fibers from plants, while others are made from combining materials. The process of acquiring these materials and the manufacturing process can be traditional practices that are passed down from one generation to another. Because materials are unique to the location of different communities and cultures, by studying the types of materials, as well as animal remains found and the processes used to manipulate them, anthropologists and researchers can learn about the daily activities and lifestyles of the cultures they are studying. In what ways do you interact with your environment on a daily basis?