Aboriginal art authenticity
When you buy Aboriginal art, how can you be sure it is an authentic piece made by Aboriginal people? Often art which is tagged "Aboriginal-style" has been mass-produced by white people or Aboriginal people did not consent to their symbols and patterns being used. Some claim that 90% of what's labeled "Aboriginal-style" actually wasn't made by Aboriginal people.
In the past there have been attempts to introduce labels which should identify authentic Aboriginal art allowing the buyer to distinguish between Indigenous art which was produced by Aboriginal people and art that was not.
More recent attempts to protect Aboriginal art added a chemical fingerprint to the painting.
Attempts to establish a label of authentication
Authentication label proposed by the NIAAA in 1999.
One of these attempts was in late 1999 when the National Indigenous Arts Advocacy Association (NIAAA) tried to introduce an authentication label aimed at promoting genuine products and deterring fraud in the Indigenous arts and crafts industry. The idea was to finance the NIAAA by charging fees for applications and labels. However, by 2001, the protocol was decommissioned due to mismanagement and lack of funds.
2006 saw a Product Authenticity Forum in another attempt to protect the significant Australian export industry of Indigenous art. Research has shown that the $700 million tourism gift market prefers functional gifts that have a story to tell and are Australian-made. But to date the market is without a label that provides security.
Chemical code protects Aboriginal painting
The world's first chemically protected artwork: Wunubi Spring by Kimberly artist
Freddie Timms. "Make me feel better, you know, with that chemical," Mr Timms said [3].
In an attempt to introduce a secure mechanism to identify original Aboriginal paintings a secret chemical code has been painted into an Aboriginal art work to outwit forgers who prey on Indigenous artists.
In the process chemical "fingerprints" are mixed into each ochre that an artist uses to create their painting. The world's first chemically protected Indigenous artwork is Kimberley artist Freddie Timms' "Wunubi Spring" which he created in September 2008. The combination of all fingerprints is unique and helps experts identify the painting.
The chemical fingerprint cannot be entirely removed or seen with the naked eye. It can also be applied to existing paintings or their canvas.
The chemical technique was created by Rachel Green, a forensic science researcher at the University of Western Australia.
"Five different colours have been encoded differently, so they're quite chemically unique," Ms Green said. [3] "They can't be reproduced."
Aboriginal copyrights
The moment an Indigenous person creates an artwork it is protected under the Copyright Act [2]. Any subsequent sale of the art does not automatically endorse the copyright which remains with the author unless they decide otherwise.
Visual arts image protected by Viscopy. You can search for keywords or artists on their website [2].
Aboriginal artists can decide to have a copyright collecting agency represent them. This means that the agency holds images of the artist's work in a database. Clients of this agency can then license the use of art by paying a licensing fee to the agency. The artist receives this fee less any administration costs of the agency. This way the Indigenous artist does not need to negotiate or liaise with clients directly, making them less vulernable to exploitation or disrespect of copyright.
The copyright collecting agency for Australia is called Viscopy. It's a non-profit, artist-owned organisation which administers copyright for 6,000 Australian artists, including more than 4,000 Indigenous members. Viscopy also employs Indigenous people as information and education officers.
Is this piece of art authentic Aboriginal art?
Strictly speaking one would have to answer the following questions to establish if your artwork is authentic Aboriginal:
- Is a story attached to this art? (Some art might not have this relationship.)
- Is the artist who created this art an Aboriginal person? (And who can rightly claim to be "Aboriginal"?)
- Is the artist entitled, or has the authority from the relevant members of the Aboriginal community to paint in a particular style or using a particular set of motifs or icons?
- Does this art come from, and is within the bounds of, traditional Aboriginal culture? (It wouldn't be authentic if a mainland Aborignal artist used the Torres Strait Islander style.)
Repecting cultural values
A label of authenticity serves not only the buyer to know that Aboriginal people have crafted this art, it serves also the Indigenous peoples themselves.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders the symbols and motifs used in their designs also hold cultural significance for a particular group. Exploitation of the design impacts not only on the artist but also on the group.
Voices of Aboriginal artists
Here are some comments given by Aboriginal artists in response to a petition [1] which tried to ban the import of art not made by Indigenous Australian Aboriginal people:
As an Aboriginal artist I strongly protest against the appropriation of Aboriginal totems and motifs for use in the tourist trade as this seriously undermines the integrity of Aboriginal art. To depict something as "Aboriginal style" is a violation of the integrity of Aboriginal artists. Janelle Evansk, Brisbane, QLD
As Chair of the QLD Indigenous Arts Marketing & Export Agency within Department of State Development Trade & Innovation I fully support this initiative. We must protect Indigenous Australian art and cultural products [...]. It is [...] an ethical and spirtual requirement that we do so! Debra Bennet, QLD
I work in Aboriginal health, I am an Aboriginal registered nurse and artist, I have seen the enormous health benefits that exist for my people with art in their own culture. Art is an expression of self & healing for my patients, family and friends who use art for healing, empowerment and economics. Sylvia Lockyer, Port Hedland, WA
Out of respect for Aboriginal culture I use Indigenous sources as much as possible.
Koori Mail 385, p.67, www.aboriginalartonline.com,
[1] www.gopetition.com/online/9752.html
[2] www.viscopy.com
[3] 'World first chemical code placed in Aboriginal painting', NIT 2/10/2008