Art is at the heart of Aboriginal life and is basically religious in character. Central to the religious life of Aboriginals are Dreamings. Dreamings record the amazing, supernatural activities of the ancestors of the Aboriginal people.

These ancestors lived in a period that lasted from the birth of the universe to a time way back in the past, beyond living memory. During this period – sometimes called the Dreamtime –- such supernatural beings as the Colour Snakes, the Lightning Men and the Wagilag Sisters travelled across the world, creating everything in it and laying down the laws for social and religious behaviour.

The continent of Australia is criss-crossed by an intricate network of these Dreamings. Some relate to a particular place or region; other Dreamings travel over vast distances and connect the people whose land they cover. The events of the Dreamings provide the great themes of Aboriginal art.