Analysis and Reflection: Issues in the Indigenous Art Market 2018

This reflective essay delves into the experiences and issues identified while attending the 'Indigenous Art Market 2018,' focusing on the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The author highlights concerns about the prevalence of fake products and the unexpected encouragement of artists to create art outside of their own culture, revealing a cultural gap and discrimination within the event. The essay explores the disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous people, the impact of social exclusion, and the lack of appreciation for indigenous culture, further affecting the economic status and cultural creativity of the community. It concludes by emphasizing the need for social acceptance, economic support, and event authority sensitivity to maintain the authenticity of artworks and promote community development.

Running head: REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Reflective essay on Indigenous Art Market 2018
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Identification of the issues...............................................................................................................3
Describe the issue............................................................................................................................3
Explaination of the issue idea..........................................................................................................4
Interpret the key issues....................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
Reference list and bibliography.......................................................................................................7

2REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Introduction
In this study, I have discussed about my experience and the issues, which I have
identified while attending the event called ‘Indigenous Art Market 2018’ on 7th and 8th Dec,
2018. Discussing the issues, I have shed light on the key influencing factor of such issues.
Identification of the issues
In the year 2018 on 7th Dec, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander have introduced the
event called ‘Indigenous Art Market 2018’. It can be considered as one of the biggest move
adopted by the authority for showing the achievements of aboriginal people and highlighting
their existence in the international and domestic market. Through this event, the authority aims to
bring unparalleled opportunities for the local community for increasing their engagement in case
of transforming the Aboriginal culture in proper manner to the global people. I have also
analyzed that through this initiative, the authentic aboriginal products have become highly
popular in the market. In this event, the authentic aboriginal fashion, craft, jewelries and art have
been sold by the artists, who came from different part of Australia. Fake products are the
important issue, which I have identified in this event. The most unexpected thing was, the artists
were being asked for making art based on others culture. This is really unexpected for me that in
such cultural events the discrimination between indigenous and nonindigenous people are being
exposed (Abc.net.au, 2019). It is not new for me that the cultural gap between the indigenous and
nonindigenous people are still play an influential role for ignoring their cultural existence,
however, it was shocking for me that how the event authority has allowed such cultural diversity
in this culture based events.

3REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Describe the issue
Being an appreciator of cultural events, I have reached at the event on 7th Dec. it has been
identified by me that fake products were available in the market. I have asked a vendor about the
origin of an aboriginal art, where the person was not being able to give proper answer regarding
the name or others information of the artist. In that case, I believe, authenticity of the products
are not being properly maintained in these types of events, which can create negative impact on
the visitors mind, who visits such cultural events for understanding the aboriginal culture. On the
other hand, I have also notices that not only the aboriginal art but also in this event others
cultural reflection has been shown. Most of the cases artists are being encouraged towards
painting outside of their own culture and the event authorities have permitted such products in
the exhibition, which was highly disappointing for me. The Indigenous art market was
introduced for increasing the income source of people. However, in this case, due to fake
artwork, the indigenous work is not being ostensible, which is creating financial crisis in the
community.
Explanation of the issue idea
In the 21st century, the disparities between the indigenous and non-indigenous people are
still existing, which are being reflected through different behavioral activities of people
(Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2019). Due to the huge cultural gap and decreasing about of indigenous
population, the cultural existence of indigenous people are still a big concern for global people. I
believe, due to the complexity in the structural elements, the racism, discrimination and social
exclusion are increasing. As per my understanding, due to this social discrimination the
aboriginal artists are being asked for making art outside of their own culture. I have also realized
that due to lack of appreciation, the cultural pride of indigenous people are not being maintained.

4REFLECTIVE ESSAY
It cannot be denied that depending on such events, the aboriginal art industry gets developed.
However, availability of fake artwork in the market, the community is being affected, which has
also bringing negative impact on their cultural creativity. Therefore, this is very important for
improving the economic status of the community. If the social and economic status of indigenous
people will not be developed, this will not be possible to protect the cultural variations of
indigenous people.
Interpret the key issues
Attending the event, the actual situation of indigenous people has been clarified to me. As
per my understanding, not only the cultural gap, but also due to lack of social acceptance, such
kind of issues are increasing in Indigenous art market. I believe, the indigenous people need to
do struggle for getting the social acceptance, which is the major difference between me and those
people. Due to the cultural differences, they are being highly dominated by the society. In this
satiation, I believe, the event authority needs to be more sensitive so that the authenticity of the
artworks can be maintained. I also believe, in social and economic support are also important for
avoiding such issues in the Indigenous art market.
Conclusion
In this study, I can conclude that Attending in Indigenous art market, I have identified the
cultural discrimination between non-indigenous and indigenous people have driven the fake
artwork, artist discouragement and economic loss in this event.

5REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Aim of the event
In the year 2018 on 7th Dec,
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander have introduced the
event called ‘Indigenous Art
Market 2018’. It can be
considered as one of the
biggest move adopted by the
authority for showing the
achievements of aboriginal
people and highlighting their
existence in the international
and domestic market.
Date: 7th and 8th Dec, 2018
Location: AIATSIS
51 Lawson Crescent
Australian Capital Territory
2601
Time: Friday 10:00am to
6:30pm
Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm
Workshop and performances
Didgeridoo performances
Jewellery demonstration
workshops
Identified key issues
Fake artwork
Discouraging
indigenous artists
Lack of contribution in
community
development
Identified cause behind
the issues
In the 21st century, the
disparities between the
indigenous and non-
indigenous people are still
existing, which are being
reflected through different
behavioral activities of
people (Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov,
2019). Due to the huge
cultural gap and decreasing
about of indigenous
population, the cultural
existence of indigenous
people are still a big
concern for global people.
As per my understanding,
not only the cultural gap,
but also due to lack of
social acceptance, such
kind of issues are
increasing in Indigenous
art market. I believe, the
indigenous people need
to do struggle for getting
the social acceptance,
which is the major
difference between me
and those people.
Reference list and
bibliography
(created by author)

6REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Reference list and bibliography
Abc.net.au (2019). Retrieved from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-05/how-fake-works-
are-disrupting-the-indigenous-art-market/7904640 [Accessed on 26th Jan, 2019]
Aiatsis.gov.au (2019). Retrieved from: https://aiatsis.gov.au/news-and-events/events/indigenous-
art-market-2018 [Accessed on 26th Jan, 2019]
Artindex.com.au (2019). Retrieved from: https://www.artindex.com.au/january-2018-newsletter-
whats-happening-in-the-art-market/ [Accessed on 26th Jan, 2019]
Cunneen, C. (2017). Community conferencing and the fiction of indigenous control.
In Restorative Justice (pp. 335-354). Routledge.
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (2019). Retrieved from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4866428/ [Accessed on 26th Jan, 2019]
Paradies, Y. (2016). Colonisation, racism and indigenous health. Journal of population
research, 33(1), 83-96.