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Catalogue Number: 25/155
This painting shows Aboriginal women going out on Country to collect seeds from native plants. These seeds come from the bean tree, a plant that grows across Central Australia. The seeds can be bright red or deep brown, and they sit inside long pods. When the pods dry and split open, the seeds fall out and can be gathered from the ground.
These seeds are often used for making jewellery and other decorations. They are strong, colourful, and have been used by Aboriginal women for many generations. In the painting, the seeds are being placed into a coolamon. A coolamon is a wooden bowl that women used in the old days for carrying bush tucker & water.
The silver curved shapes in the artwork represent the women sitting on the ground as they work. Beside each woman is her digging stick.
Collecting seeds is more than just gathering materials. It is a cultural practice that connects women to their Country, their families, and their ancestors. Knowledge about which plants to collect from, the right time to gather the seeds, and how to prepare them has been passed down through many generations of Aboriginal women.