Indigenous Artists Life Expectancy

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The relatively small proportion of Indigenous art in the Australian contemporary art market as a whole is a reflection of the low life expectancy of Indigenous Australians and the propensity for Indigenous artists to start their career later in life.  A study in 2003 suggested that only 50 percent of Australian works sold were by living Australian artists[1].

Australia’s Indigenous population has a much younger age structure than its non-Indigenous population, with those aged 65 years and over representing approximately 3% of the Indigenous population.  Further, figures also show that 70% of the Aboriginal population pass away before the age of 65.  Indigenous Australians have a much lower life expectancy than the general Australian population – life expectancy is 60-64[2]

ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION BY AGE 

In relation to art, ‘emerging’ and ‘youth’ seem almost synonymous.  However, for an Indigenous Australian artist living in a remote or regional area, beginning a career later after a lifetime of other endeavours, is practically the norm.   ‘Emerging’ Indigenous artists use years of personal experience and cultural knowledge to produce dynamic and stunning contemporary works of art.

Some of the more famous Aboriginal artists whose works have had significant impact not only on their own communities, but also on national and international arts are Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Albert Namatjira and Rover Thomas.  Further, there has been a significant increase in interest in Indigenous art in the commercial market which can be attributed to an explosion of diverse styles, designs and various depictions of ancestral stories which has further enhanced non-Indigenous peoples’ understanding of and exposure to Indigenous culture, engaging audiences on many different levels.

Traditionally, the status of ‘Elder’ was bestowed on an individual after years of participating in ceremonies, preserving cultural protocols and respecting instructions from other Elders within their community. This lifelong journey prepares them to lead their communities, thus for some, it is only when community demands diminish that they have time to further explore their art. Making art provides an economic benefit to their communities and also allows for invaluable social interaction; the singing, storytelling and performance that often accompany the making of a work are also constructive ways to teach and share knowledge with younger artists.

Elders in Aboriginal communities perform a vital role in Indigenous society, honoured as keepers and enforcers of law, stories and culture.  Intertwined through all aspects of Indigenous life is art, which allows for the ongoing transferral, maintenance and reinforcement of cultural knowledge.

In many communities, only certain individuals or families receive the right to paint particular designs and stories that have been passed down through the generations; and usually only after an artist has served an ‘apprenticeship’ or long period of tuition with senior artists. This gradual transfer of cultural knowledge reinforces the power and integrity of the stories depicted in Indigenous art.

Unfortunately, as previously described, the life expectancy of Aboriginal people living in remote areas is far shorter than that of non-Indigenous Australians[3], meaning that many talented Indigenous artists’ careers are often short-lived.