Shaped by thousands of generations and in turn shaping the societies that thrived here, the art traditions of the first peoples of Australia are expressions of life, environments and philosophy. These ancient artistic practices and techniques were disregarded from the time the British invaded in 1788 until nearly 200 years later. In this landmark publication, 25 writers urge us to reconsider the meaning of time and of history.

• Why the original art of Australia was so important and how the artistic practises were vital to the ongoing survival of communities

• What those original art works were and how they were used

• How colonial art tells the story of invasion and racism

• How the history of Australia was rewritten by erasing any indigenous presence in the visual archive

• How indigenous artists transformed contemporary art making when they were introduced to new materials

Featuring new writing by leading thinkers across generations and disciplines, this landmark publication celebrates an extraordinary body of artwork across media, time periods, regions and language groups. Today, Indigenous art and artists have reclaimed their place in the creative narrative. 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art stares into the dark heart of Australian art history and offers a heroic vision of the original art of this country.