It’s a Rich Life – Indigenous art hidden in parables

THE STORY

As I look at the beauty and wonder around me, I often find myself thinking about how to express my gratitude to God. How do I quiet those feelings of envy or ingratitude that sometimes creep in.

I remember visiting a Fijian village and seeing a piece of indigenous art that deeply moved me. It told a story of family, togetherness, and happiness through simple, powerful symbols. 

I’ve see that same spirit in Aboriginal dream-time art, American Indian designs, and New Zealand Māori artworks. Their story telling inspired the idea behind this painting.

In my work, I’ve painted from photos that remind me of life’s richness. Spring blossoms, a loaf of bread, a crystal glass of red wine, and the gentle beauty of Silver Eyes and a Tui reflect a rich life. I also drew from NASA’s breathtaking space images, weaving them into a story that connects indigenous wisdom with the vastness of creation. Indigenous art oil painting

My reasons to paint

Through this painting, I wanted to explore a simple truth: if I’m not rich in gratitude, how can I encourage others to rise above the poverty line? How can we learn to be thankful — not just when we have plenty, but also in times of little? Can we, like many people, rediscover generosity and share what we have — even with those we find hard to love? My mentor, Jesus, has opened my eyes to the mystery of riches.

“It’s a Rich Life” is my way of saying thank you — a small expression of wonder and appreciation for the abundance that surrounds us.

See this article, “It’s a Rich Life” in Junction Magazine for insight into a part of Ian’s journey.

Indigenous storytelling in art

All mankind has this common thread: “No matter what our culture, we want our stories told”.

Intuitively, across cultures, something deeper is missing in all humans, and the need to express our beliefs for recognition is at the core of all art. No matter what genre/style, the message conveyed needs knowledgeable interpretation beyond the painting’s visible appeal, where it speaks to the heart.

My Aboriginal companions and I came from the same seed, and through time and separation, we created unique cultures with inherent belief structures. Good and bad philosophies, religions, and politics are all trying to defend their positions against one another, anchored on the back of stubborn cultural pride.

*  North American Indian Symbols

Through the generations, Native American Indians communicated their history, thoughts, ideas, and dreams with symbols as well as spoken words. They also used these to evoke help from the spirit world. They had a trained awareness of everything around them and strived to live in harmony with their known world and their universe.

Indian symbol logos are used decoratively and symbolically as a visual language. They use these to depict the language of life, nature, and their spirit.

The American Indians view all things as having “a spirit”, whether animate or inanimate or could be touched and seen or not seen. They thought of the universe as being all-encompassing, IE, holding the powers and secrets of deeper meaning. There is partial truth in that thought, but mystery prevails, unless the creator/manufacturer identifies himself and believed.

–  Search for correct knowledge

I researched multiple sources to achieve the random choices I used in the painting. While researching the subject, it became clear that there are blurred lines as to why one symbol was used over another between different tribes.

The only common thread I found was that, given the number of tribes, it is understandable that many symbols were used with different interpretations; however, they were all used while maintaining a similar belief in spirit and universe.

With that in mind, the symbols used conveyed profound beliefs and perceptions, and we continue that tradition in Western culture. For example, we only need to look at computer language symbols. Symbols are an inherent part of our human communication systems. Reference Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, and Apple computers. Indigenous art oil painting

–  Random choices and purpose

1. Star– Hope, and guidance
2. Rain cloud– Change, renewal & fertility
3. Eagle – Courage, wisdom, and strength
4. Horse – Purity, stamina, nobleness, courage, power, independence of spirit, freedom to roam, and pride.
5. Butterfly – Transformation, fertility, everlasting life
6. Dragonfly – Happiness, speed, and purity
7. Bear – Courage, physical strength, and leadership
8. Fish – Water and the flow of life from the Earth
9. Mountain range – Majesty, abundance

*  New Zealand Maori Art

In the Maori world, the Mangopare hammerhead shark symbolises natural abundance, strength, agility, and determination. The predator’s respected qualities are symbolised in the Koru pattern. The Koru (Māori for “loop”) is a spiral shape based on the shape of the unfurling silver fern frond. This integral symbol in Māori art symbolises new life, growth, strength, and peace.

The use of the hammerhead shark backbone flowing into an unfurling fern represents the strength and drive of a warrior pursuing their goals. Māori artists chose this symbol to inspire determination, courage, and the resolve to achieve what they set out to do.

*  Australian Aboriginal Art

I particularly love the vibrancy and symbolism of Native art and Aboriginal dot painting.

Recognised globally, the language in Dot painting is unique and integral to Australian Aboriginal art. On the surface, the dot is simply a style of Aboriginal painting, similar to cross-hatching, stencil art, or pointillism in Western art., but exploring deeper into the history of Aboriginal dot painting, you will find a world of camouflage, secrecy, and ritual thinking.

What the Aboriginals depicted in their want to worship from the culture I now use to explore the visual medium of my culture. I tell the stories of what I see. I am indebted to God for Aboriginal hunger and storytelling skills, by simply using what they have at hand. The search for the invisible supernatural world narrative is clear in Aboriginal art stories.

The above information I gleaned from many sources. I can’t vouch for perfect accuracy.

*   Western World Art

I am someone shaped by Western thinking and a capitalist world, yet I try to cultivate a heart of good intent. In that journey, I seek reconciliation with the wisdom of our Creator—the true Manufacturer who understands how life is meant to unfold.

I often find myself wondering how others express their gratitude, wisdom, and wonder through their cultural traditions. When I see the art they create, I can’t help but marvel. These works feel like humble offerings—moments of reflection and devotion, each one opening a window into the soul.

Every culture carries its own visual language, its own modern hieroglyphics, a unique way of expressing what it believes and feels. Their spirituality—their Dreamtime—reaches toward something greater, searching for the mystery of where we come from and where we are going. That longing is woven into all of us.

–  Spirituality and the human heart

Spirituality lives deep within the human heart. We reveal it through our stories, our symbols, and the ways we honour our place in creation. My own culture—my own Dreamtime—finds expression through art that touches our shared vulnerabilities and reveals something tender and human in us all.

To truly understand one another, we need keys that help us cross the barriers of language and misunderstanding. With nearly 7,000 languages spoken across the earth, one of the greatest keys we have is empathy—a genuine desire to honour the truth within each culture.

This painting is my offering. A quiet reminder to every culture, every people, to look for what we can be grateful for—to see the beauty first, instead of the flaws that are always so easy to notice.

Fashion products from the painting

I created a women’s fashion series, “Indigenous Dreaming,” in collaboration with the now ceased Vida America fashion label.

My “La Festa”  fashion label is created as an art gallery runway for the streets of the world. I wanted to take my art into the public arena with “positive educational statements” combining visual beauty with allegory and metaphor.

The indigenous influence art disclaimer

My attempts to study and paint Indigenous art are simple and naïve, but they come from deep respect. I would never knowingly dishonour a people I truly love. As I learn at my own pace, I’ve found an even greater appreciation for these marginalised communities, and that respect is woven into the way I blend their creative traditions with my own Western photorealistic style.

As an Australian Jesus lover — and a citizen of the world — I feel honoured by the beauty they’ve shared with us: their storytelling, designs, dot painting, and the rhythm of their music, from didgeridoos and clapsticks to dance and song. Their creativity has given me immense joy.

I still have much to learn, and I hope to keep building bridges of understanding between my culture and Indigenous cultures everywhere.

I see this as part of my God-given inheritance, and I look forward to the day when we experience their gifts in heaven — a place without fear, hatred, prejudice, or offence, where everything God created is celebrated as good.

STATUS and MATERIALS

ORIGINAL FOR SALE.* 
Oil painted on fine-weave, gesso primed long-life linen canvas with dammar varnish protection. The work is stretch-mounted proudly and framed on New Zealand pine.
* Originals are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.

25 LIMITED EDITION “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
Please ask about the price and sizes.

75 LIMITED EDITIONS CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS *
Unframed sizes | 960 x short side – $960  |  650 x short side – $650
Printed on long-life archival canvas. Protected with two coats of UV archival spray.
* Stretch-mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.

OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS * 
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival protection spray.

FASHION and PRODUCTS

Images from this series are exhibited on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

SHIPPING

• Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
• The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance-coded Authentication of the Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
• Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.

AWARDS

• 2019 – 1st prize (Professional), Great Summer Art Exhibition, Snells Beach Tennis Club, Auckland, New Zealand.
  >>Judges’ comments –This painting invited me into its many layers and showed maturity in the artist’s oil brush skills.
  >>It gave me glimpses through serene portals of time and seasons with finely painted motifs that the artist chose to represent some of the richness of life. The work is layered, celebrating the present and the fleeting in the foreground, but the underlying base of the painting is what gives us a sense of things eternal and spiritual, that is, the backdrop for life. The cultural symbolism speaks of virtues’ importance essential to our harmony and the well-being of mankind. The beautifully executed Aboriginal design cleverly harmonises and marries the artist’s personal cultural past with his adopted NZ home, which is part of his identity. I felt the painting was calmly thought-provoking and uplifting. Ivan Clarke