UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL IDENTITY THROUGH INDIGENOUS ART

Abstract

This article explores the role of Indigenous art in shaping and expressing cultural identity, focusing on how traditional and contemporary art forms serve as a powerful medium for preserving, communicating, and revitalizing Indigenous knowledge, values, and worldviews. By examining a variety of art forms—such as painting, sculpture, textiles, and digital art—this study highlights how Indigenous artists reflect cultural heritage while navigating modern global influences. The article draws on interdisciplinary perspectives from anthropology, art history, and Indigenous studies to analyze how art contributes to cultural continuity, resistance to colonial narratives, and the reassertion of sovereignty and self-determination. Additionally, this research examines how Indigenous art has become a central element in contemporary conversations about cultural identity and representation in global art spaces.