Art Gallery, a photo from Queensland, East

Photographer's Note

Carnarvon Gorge was a holy place for aboriginal people but the most holy of all was a place called today Art Gallery. I think that it must be like our cathedrals. There are a few walls covered with aboriginal painting and bas-relieves. One wall is totally covered by sculptures of human vulva. Jokingly, we said that it was what the guy had on his mind all the time, but in the reality, these were made by women, not by men. Vulva is a symbol of life and most probably women wishing for children came to this place to carve the symbol to ensure that their wish would be fulfilled.

adores has marked this note useful

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clnaef (6289) 2006-09-08 9:14

Bonjour,
En effet, c'est très décoratif.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

adores (46979) 2006-09-08 11:52

Hi Roman!
Another good photo of this interesting place. That's really interesting, I had never heard that such place existed. Now I know, thanks to your photo and to your explanation. Thanks!

rewshearer (682) 2006-09-08 17:01

How old are these carvings?
A fascinating place, and a great glimpse into a culture with such different perspectives on the female body from our own.
Thanks for sharing
Rew

dorte_s_t (2287) 2006-09-09 18:57

Hi , Roman .
Very interesting photo and note !
I wonder what the different coloured layers are ?
And the red coloured area to the left ??

Perhaps you would be interested to know that we have similar symbols of fertility in Denmark :
It was a habit since the bronze-ages ( 3000 B.C. ) to engrave "bowl- signs " on rocks and
big stones . The " bowl-signs " are 4 - 5 cm. in diameter and up to 1 cm. deep.
They are the oldest and most wide-spread rock-carvings in Denmark .
Cheers
Dorte.