Aboriginal art archive digitised – in pictures

A carving of a goanna from Amata in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia. This carving was collected in 1971 by the Uprange ministerial rxpedition and is part of a group of items made by Aboriginal guides and their families during the progress of the field trip Photograph: Isabell Haenel/South Australian Museum

A painting on canvas from Yuendumu, Northern Territory by Topsy Nampijinpa showing Ngapa Dreaming (water)Isabell Haenel/South Australian Museum
Photograph: Isabell Haenel/South Australian Museum

Carved punu (bird with pokerwork design) from Ernabella Arts Inc. Central Australia Photograph: Sarah Loveband/South Australian Museum

A beantree wood shield from Yuendumu, Northern Territory by Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, featuring a dot-style design in acrylic paint on the front. The artist, Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, is kirda (owner) of the story it shows
Photograph: Isabell Haenel/South Australian Museum

Ceremonial Warlpiri boomerang, freshly made and painted with designs in charcoal, ochre and pipeclay, representing the great Snake Dreaming at the sacred Ngama cave, north of Yuendumu. The boomerang was made and decorated for the performance of the Ngama ceremony which was held during the Uprange ministerial expedition of 1971. The aim of the expedition, which was largely the initiative of former South Australian Museum Curator Robert Edwards, was to introduce the importance of Aboriginal heritage sites in South and Central Australia to the federal and state government politicians Photograph: Ursula Talbot, Teagan Lane/South Australian Museum

Ceremonial container painted with designs representing the Pingi manu Yankirri Tjurkurrpa (Meat Ant and Emu Dreaming) at a site near Yuendumu. Three Warlpiri artists collaborated on the painting: Lucy Napaljarri Kennedy, Ruth Napaljarri Oldfield and Ruby Nampijinpa Forrest Photograph: Alison Lea, Zoe Easterbrook/South Australian Museum

A basketry artefact collected by Norman B. Tindale in north west South Australia in 1966 Photograph: Adrian Mollenmans/South Australian Museum