Representations of the Tjukurrpa are a ubiquitous feature of Aboriginal art and culture. The English equivalent of this expression is "the Dreamtime" and it refers to memories of the past and the legends of history. Tjukurrpa is a concept that blurs the lines between dreams and reality, life and death, and different tribes refer to this by different names. The stories of the Tjukurrpa that Aboriginal artists have inherited from their ancestors translate into powerful paintings that feature totem animals and icons in a setting that crosses the boundaries of time and space.
Aboriginal art is thoroughly infused with the blurred reality of the Dreamtime, in which symbols become more than representations. They are the reality, or they were, in what is the Aboriginal concept of flexible time. The symbols of each dreamer are filled with intensely personal messages but there are some universal symbols. For example, a U shape often represents a person and concentric circles can mean a meeting place, water hole or religious site.
There are two ways to categorize Aboriginal art, City and Desert. City art refers to the artwork produced by the urban Aboriginal culture, which has evolved to adopt more contemporary settings and mediums. Desert art consists of the white dots and lines technique that is the worldwide hallmark of Australian aboriginal art. Although this style resembles modern conceptual art, the two styles are not related except in terms of how they use symbols. Solid patches of color and a range of brown earthen tones on natural materials like bark or canvas are also characteristics of Aboriginal art styles.
Painting is not only for a conventional canvas or even paper. Aboriginal art is found on rocks, in sand, and even on the human body. Methods and materials varied greatly depending on the situation and the individual, but designs were always highly personalized and symbolic. Today's Aboriginal artists also use modern materials like canvas frames and acrylic paints to create traditional images. The practice of body painting is common among Aboriginal people for ceremonial rituals and many other purposes.