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Catalogue Number: 24/308
This painting shows the bush tomato plant, a small desert plant that grows after good rain in the Central Desert. When the country is wet and the soil is soft, the plant sends out new growth. Small purple flowers appear and then the green fruit begins to form. As the sun warms the land, the fruit slowly changes colour. When it turns yellow, like in the painting, it is ripe and ready to eat. If the fruit stays on the plant and dries in the sun, it turns brown. This dried fruit is still good bush tucker.
Aboriginal families living in remote parts of Central Australia know exactly when the bush tomatoes are ready. When the time is right, they go out onto their Country to collect the fruit. Children learn from their mothers, aunties, and grandmothers, watching how the plants grow and learning the best places to find them.
This knowledge is very important. It teaches families how to live with the land and understand the seasons. Knowing what the plants look like, when the fruit is ready, and where to find them helps keep families strong. It keeps people connected to their Country, their culture, and the stories that have been passed down for thousands of years.