GLORIA PETYARRE - BUSH MEDICINE LEAVES

 GLORIA PETYARRE
BUSH MEDICINE LEAVES,  2002
180 x 180 cm
Synthetic Polymer Paint on polyester
 
PROVENANCE
Utopia Art, Sydney Sydney Cat No. GP2113Private Collection, VIC 
 
STORY
This story relates to a native tree that grows abundantly in the desert regions of Utopia, North-east of Alice Springs, Gloria Petyarre's homeland. The leaves are invaluable to the people of Utopia because of their health-giving properties. The green leaves are gathered by the women and ground with a stone. When mixed with water this forms a milky solution, which can be used to cure coughs, colds and flu-like symptoms. The leaves can also be used to make a paste that can be applied to the skin to cure boils, scabies and to wash with. This mixture is also applied to aching joints or placed on the temples to cure headaches. The dry leaves that fall to the ground are not useable. In this work Gloria depicts the movement of the leaves through the trees and the leaves floating to the ground - this sense of motion is seen throughout her paintings. This Bush Medicine has been passed down over thousands of years and many generations. It is still being used today by the people in Utopia and the Eastern Desert.
 
EXHIBITED
Utopia Art Sydney, 2002