The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington is showing an exhibit of Aboriginal artists from the Australian central desert regions. Aboriginal art is fascinating with paintings that have the magical ability to propel you in a dream like state.

Lands of Enchantment also explores how contemporary Australian Aboriginal paintings are expressive representations of Dreamings—ancient Aboriginal stories about creation and ancestral spirits who inhabited an undatable past called Dreamtime. Contrary to the prevalent Western view that draws clear distinctions between nature and civilization, Aboriginal culture holds that all living beings and elements of geography have been inextricably related through time.

Also a beautiful exhibit about Telling Secrets: Codes, Caption and Conondrums in Contemporary Art.

Artists today often create literal layers (as in collage), apply varying levels of abstraction, or add text in order to enrich or deepen meaning in their works. Other artists layer metaphorically, incorporating evocative symbols such as tattoos, masks, and veils. This exhibition of 39 paintings, photographs, drawings, and prints from NMWA’s collection invites viewers to consider multiple interpretations and inscribe their own ideas and experiences onto each image.

Shown in a thought-provoking thematic installation, the works in Telling Secrets will juxtapose art from a variety of cultures. This approach will reflect contemporary art’s global scope as well as encourage visitors to see both the shared and distinctive traits among art works from many cultures. Leonora Carrington, Jane Hammond, Robin Kahn, Hung Liu, Shirin Neshat, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, and Adriana Varejão are among the 23 featured artists.