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Catalogue Number: 25/403
This painting shows the bush medicine plant and the tiny flowers that appear in the desert after big rain. For most of the year the ground is dry and dusty and the seeds lie quietly on the soil waiting for the right time. When the rain finally comes the Country changes. Little patches of colour begin to appear and the green leaves of the bush medicine plant grow for a short time.
Women from nearby communities know this plant well. When they see the fresh leaves, they go out into the bush to collect them. The leaves have a special smell that helps the women find the plant among the rocks and sand. Back at home the leaves are boiled in water to make healing bush medicine. Families use this warm medicine to help with pain, colds, flu, and skin irritations.
This painting celebrates this knowledge that has been passed down through many generations. It shows the way rain brings life to the desert and how Aboriginal women continue to care for their families using the plants that grow on their Country.