The Artists of Arnhem Land

This programme is part of a BBC Four Collection showcasing the early work of Sir David Attenborough.

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"The aborigines of northern Australia paint astonishing pictures," wrote Sir David Attenborough in the Radio Times in 1963. "They are drawn on sheets of bark with red and yellow ochres, soot, and white clay. Among geometrical shapes and cross-hatchings appear kangaroos and yams, lizards and human figures, fish and supernatural spirits. Often they are painted in a strange style which shows not simply their outward shape but also their skeletons, their heart, their lungs, and their muscles. The few examples of these paintings that come out of the vast tribal reserve of Arnhem Land are eagerly bought by art collectors for ever-increasing prices."

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