I think the idea that a viewer of a different cultural background can never know the true meaning of an artwork is absolute rubbish. Yes, it may be difficult to extract specific implications or messages - but isn't art the universal language? We use art to express visually what we can't express verbally because of language barriers. It's about feeling, expression, community or individualism - can this not be reflected to a wide audience simply because we don't know everything about the culture?

I'm not a Christian, and in fact, I know pretty much nothing about Christianity - does this mean that I can't understand the work of the greats in the Renaissance like Leonardo or Raphael? No way! While the Australian Indigenous culture is a small one, it doesn't mean that I can't learn anything from it. If you don't understand something that you're attracted to, wouldn't you attempt to gain some knowledge about it?

Obviously, remote Aboriginal communities have been able to avoid Western influence - making Indigenous Australian art some of the most pure forms in the world, and hence, much of the attraction toward it - we are a world built on education of other cultures and histories. Many contemporary Australian artists incorporate Indigenous imagery into their works, however, because it's a way to break down or enhance the perception of these barriers. It's a way to attempt to bring different cultures together - this is not necessarily a good thing, but it's a method of understanding each other.