Aboriginal art always tells a fascinating story.
Myths, rituals, spirituality, beliefs, magic and sorcery abound in paintings, drawings, songs and dance.
The basis of Indigenous art is the Dreaming, when ancestral spirits came to the land and created rivers, plants, people, animals and tribal laws.
Aboriginal rock art provides a fascinating glimpse into the religion, beliefs, economy and social activities of the Indigenous culture.
You'll find the oldest Aboriginal rock art in Australia in the Kimberley.
Known as the Bradshaw paintings, they're believed to be up to 60,000 years old - which is at least five times older than the Egyptian pyramids.
According to Indigenous legend, the paintings - discovered by Joseph Bradshaw in 1891 - were created by birds using their tail feathers.
The paintings show extraordinary sophistication and are widely considered to rank in significance with Nefertari's tomb in Egypt.
At the Burrup Peninsula north of Dampier you'll find the world's biggest and most important collection of rock carvings dating back to the last ice age.
It's estimated that this unique ecological and archaeological area is home to more than 10,000 engravings with over 500 sites officially recorded.
In Kununurra you'll find Red Rock Art, home to contemporary Aboriginal art of the East Kimberley.
A range of paintings, metal sculptures and basketwork are showcased in this stylish gallery.
Its artists-in-residence program means visitors can watch indigenous works in progress, including those by leading artist Nancy Noonju.
A unique aspect of the gallery is that the ochres used are collected and ground by hand, with methods and sources handed down through the ages.
There are two other galleries in Kununurra devoted to indigenous art, Waringarri and Our Land.
Waringarri is language specific and shows works by artists from the local indigenous community.
There are Indigenous art galleries and showings in many remote towns and aboriginal communities throughout the State - check with local visitor centres to find out more.
Closer to Perth, you can find an array of authentic Aboriginal art and didgeridoos for sale in King Street, Fremantle, Subiaco, Northbridge and Kings Park.
Be sure to also make a pit stop at Maalinup in the Swan Valley - the only indigenous art gallery and gift shop in WA that is Aboriginal-owned and operated.
Here, you'll find paintings, authentic boomerangs (yes - they do come back!), hand-painted glassware, traditional clapping sticks and carved emu eggs.
Arts Experience
3 Days
Art is an important part of life in the South West region, and it's expressed in dozens of forms. View More