澳大利亚回旋镖 是一种文化的象征

Boomerangs have traditionally been used by Australia's indigenous people as a hunting weapon.

 

But they are more than that, explains aboriginal artist Bibi Barba. They carry significant cultural attachments, are used to pass culture and tradition from one generation to the next. 

 

"They are a cultural symbol for us," she tells the BBC. "A lot [of] indigenous artists do artwork on them and this artwork is different in different parts of the country, it holds different meaning."

 

But it's not just the artwork on the boomerangs that carries cultural signifiers and tradition - even things like the selection process for the wood is of crucial importance.

 

Boomerangs are still made by artists in the indigenous community and are popular tourist souvenirs in the country. But most of the boomerangs that tourists carry back home are not made by local communities but mass produced - in many cases not even in Australia.

 

The Indigenous Arts Code launched a campaign earlier this year to ban imported fake artefacts.

 

The whole point, Ms Sullivan explains, is that "mass-production is taking away the potential for aboriginal people and artists to sell authentic products."

 

The lack of cultural sensitivity combined with the hefty price tag is a perfect set-up for cynicism and ridicule.

 

中文翻译如下：

自古以来，澳大利亚土著人就将回旋镖当作狩猎的武器。

但土著艺术家比比•巴尔巴解释道，回旋镖不仅仅是一种武器。它们承载了重要的文化信仰，并将土著文化和传统一代代传承下去。

巴尔巴告诉BBC：“对我们来说，这是一种文化象征。许多土著艺术家对它们进行艺术加工，而澳大利亚每个地区的艺术加工不尽相同，包含着不同的意义。”

不仅是这种艺术加工承载了文化符号和传统，甚至连木材的选择过程也至关重要。

土著部落的艺术家们仍然在制作回旋镖，在澳大利亚，这是一种非常受欢迎的旅游纪念品。但是大多数游客带回家的回旋镖都不是当地部落制作的，而是批量生产的，甚至很多并非产自澳大利亚。

今年早些时候，“澳洲土著艺术规范”组织发起了一项禁止进口假冒手工艺品的活动。

沙利文解释说，“批量生产的回旋镖抢走了土著人和艺术家制作的正宗回旋镖的市场。”

缺乏文化敏感性再加上高昂的价格，这简直是招来冷嘲热讽的标配。