Tuesday 9 February 2010

ABC Wednesday D for Dreamtime






Australia - Aboriginal Dreamtime: " All peoples of our world have a concept of how the world was formed. The Aboriginals believe that, in the beginning, the earth was featureless, flat and grey. There were no mountain ranges, no rivers, no billabongs, no birds or animals - in fact not one living thing. Then long, long ago came the Dreamtime. The Dreamtime was a time when giant creatures rose up out of the grey plains where they had been slumbering for countless ages. These mythical Beings looked like animals or plants or insects, but they behaved just like humans. They wandered across the vast grey wastes, digging for water and searching for food and as they searched, because of their giant size, they made huge ravines and rivers in the land. Thus the world took on the shape it has today."

In Cooktown there is a great example of Aboriginal art. It's called the Milbi Wall. This is created by the inhabitants of Cooktown and the Aboriginal compound of Hopevale, under the direction of the Hopevale artist Roy McIvor, who is an uncle of my daughter's ex- husband.Milbi is the Guugu Yimithirr (local Aboriginal language) word for story. The wall is meant to be part of the reconciliation project and a memorial to show history from an Aboriginal point of view.

The wall concists of three parts. The first part tells about the Dreamtime, the second part about the first contact with Europeans and later Asians, these contacts were disastrous for the Aborigines, then the third part shows us the present time which hopefully promises reconciliation of differences.The stories are told in beautiful ceramic tiles.The Wall is built right at the spot where, in 1770, Captain James Cook and his crew first set foot.

On top of the wall lies the Rainbow Serpent, one of the creator spirits of the indigenous people of Australia.


With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with D.

27 comments:

jpascale said...

ja daar zou ik me ook wel zien zitten hoor
liefs

Anya said...

Ja ik wil daar ook wel FF met U zitten .......
Gezellig toch :-)
Doeiiiii...

Rune Eide said...

That is as good a subject for a Creation myth as any other I have read - in fact it is one of the better ones.

I'm glad to see that the wall is situated ant a very appropriate place. I hope that is appreciated by ALL those who live there.

Vicki Lane said...

I have always been fascinated by Aboriginal art -- so beautiful and vigorous! Thank you for posting this, Reader Wil!

Arkansas Patti said...

I love hearing different cultures version of creation.
That wall is awesome. Could spend some time studying that.

Bradley Hsi said...

I was watching AVATAR the other day with my son-in-law. The movie reflects so well what happen during the 16th, to 19th centuries when the European power met the native culture. Hope things are better now or are they?

George said...

Thanks for sharing this fascinating creation story with us as well as the wall. I think the wall is very beautiful and I hope it will be a wall of remembrance and not a wall of separation.

Roger Owen Green said...

I love the creation story. It's unfortunate, not only that Aborginal people (including the American Indians and Africans) have suffered; worse, that the history, written by the captors, does not reflect the reality.

Sylvia K said...

I agree with Rune, a great subject for a Creation myth and as usual I learned something new. Your photos are marvelous as always! Hope your week is going well!

Sylvia

Leslie: said...

I've seen some about the Australian aboriginal art. It's quite fascinating.

photowannabe said...

What an amazing piece of history and art. thanks for sharing such an interesting D post today.

anthonynorth said...

I've studied Dreamtime as part of my research and it's a fascinating subject - most fascinating is the fact that most cultures can trace similar concepts deep in their mythology. An amazing oneness here.

Patty said...

Very interesting. We're having some more snow.

Unknown said...

You are such a good teacher! I always learn something new *and fascinating* when I come to visit! : )

Rajesh said...

Very beautiful ancient art.

ABC @ Delwara Temples

Tumblewords: said...

Beautiful! I've read several books about the Dreamtime and find it utterly fascinating. Terrific art work!

Hildred said...

How very beautiful, - both the story and the artistry.

Etje said...

Heb daar ooit al eens wat over gelezen en vind het een schitterend verhaal.
Zoals overal waar de "blanke man" voet aan wal heeft gezet was het voor de inheemse bevolking daarna een hel

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Wonderful post! I love that whole concept of that wall. At first, I thought it was a bench of some sort and wondered how anyone kept the skateboarding kids off of it.

??? said...

Dreamtime has always fascinated me. Love the wall!

annies home said...

that looks very fun

lv2scpbk said...

Interesting post for ABC Wed. On behalf of the ABC Wed. Team, Thanks for participating in ABC Wed.

I really like that mosaic artwork on your last post.

Nydia said...

Such a beautiful legend and a wonderful art! Thanks for sharing these! :o)

Kisses from Nydia.

Etje said...

Na de sneeuw van gisteren morgen is er 's avonds nog heel wat bijgevallen, is prachtig buiten nu.

Groetjes

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

What beautiful wall. I have a T shirt of Aboriginal art.

You are so knowledgeable in so many things.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Very interesting post. I love the colors in your photograph.

Dina said...

This is a very great work -- of art, of history, tradition, hope!

Wil, so glad about the visit in May! Good onya.