However, these icons are only a fraction of the dynamic and diverse artistic tradition of the world's oldest civilisation.
Regional diversity abounds.
Across the continent, every community has its own traditional and contemporary artistic interpretations of the Dreaming and myriad stories and designs give each area its distinctive style. Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make up less than 2 per cent of the population their artistic and cultural contribution to Australia is immense. From the dances of the Torres Strait Islands to the drama of Ningali Lawford , from the burial Pukumani Poles of the Tiwi Islands to the work of urban artists like Rea , Fiona Foley and Gordon Bennett , Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures are a source of great richness and inspiration. The renaissance of Aboriginal visual art began in the early 1970s when the marketing of bark paintings began and Aboriginal peoples at the Papunya Tula Mission in Central Australia began to depict the themes of Dreaming onto boards with acrylic paints. Interest and practice around Australia increased as the style of Aboriginal artists became celebrated.