Buyers Beware
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri’s painting “Warlugulong 1977” sold for $2.4 million earlier this year, which set a new record for Australian Aboriginal art. The sale of Tjapaltjarris’ painting, and others like it, has been part of a remarkable success story, with art collectors all over the world eager to purchase Australian indigenous art. That industry is now estimated to be worth about 400 million dollars per year.
But due to the high stakes and the growing demand for Aboriginal art this means that some buyers may be falling victim to unscrupulous traders trying to cash in on the trend. Worse still, many of the artists behind the paintings risk being exploited, being grossly underpaid or having their work misrepresented by shady dealers. This can happen when trusting buyers don’t make certain that they are purchasing art through reputable and recognised sources.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has investigated traders for selling art and crafts claiming to be genuine or certified authentic Aboriginal work. In some cases, businesses have been found selling mass-produces goods designed for tourists and made by non-Indigenous workers.
But buying Aboriginal art or souvenirs does not have to be an ethical or financial minefield, as long as buyers follow a few simple steps. The vast majority of galleries, traders, and sellers of Indigenous art do comply with the law, and will happily prove it by providing appropriate background on the artists whose work they are selling.
Buyers should be asking for information, such as the name and language group of the artists, which region or homeland they come from, the title of the work, and when and where it was created. This information can then easily be checked. Many quality Aboriginal works tell complex and historical stories, and the dealer or seller should be able to pass on this and any other relevant cultural information.
And remember, you get what you pay for. Buying high quality art from well-known artists will be expensive, and cheaper works are likely to be less valuable and of lower quality. If you are ever unsure about the true value of a painting or piece of art it may be worth seeking an independent valuation before buying it.
The ACCC has several “fact sheets” and other information for both buyers and sellers of Indigenous art and crafts. These are available on their website at www.accc.government.au, or by phoning the ACCC on 1300 302 502.