Abtract Expressionism was formed in the States from the 1940's to the 1950's. The idea was to convey emotional feeling and rawness by using colour and predominantly large canvases. Jackson Pollack was a world famous abstract Expressionist.
Nationalism
Margret Preston believed that Aboriginal Art should form the basis for an Australian uniformed art. She was well educated, married to a rich husband and had everything going for her. She was a Nationalist and believed in the Aboriginal art movement.
Albert Namatijira was an icon between the 1920's -1940's around the same time the Australian public including aboriginal people were going through plenty of upheavel.
Namitijira had a real honesty about his work, he was from NT and his work was much more than any white painter during the time. He assimilated into white man culture but this came at a cost. His people disowned him and tried to take a portion of his money, this was in accordance to Aboriginal law. He tried to build a house but Aboriginals couldn't come out after dark in NT because they were not citizens. In 1957 the NT government made an exception for Albert but suggested his kids would not be able to visit as they were wards of the state in Alice.
Albert Namitijira before heart attack in jail
reference:
skhs.org.au
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/namatjira-albert-elea-11217
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