Bush Plum And Bush Onion

The painting depicts the Dreaming of the Bush Plum and Antangker – the artist's ancestral land in the Utopia region, about 250 km northeast of Alice Springs. Bush plums (fruits of Santalum lanceolatum tree) are small and black, highly nutritious, and rich in vitamin C. They hold significant importance for Alyawarre women, who, along with children, gather bush onions (yalka) in the summer and conduct ceremonies. During this time, they paint symbols of Amwekety (bush plum) on their bodies, sing, and dance.

Gracie Morton Pwerle, one of the senior custodians of this Dreaming, presents the story using a technique of delicate dotting and colour variations. The bird's eye view shows the changing seasons of the land, with very fine and colourful dots representing bush plums at various stages of growth. Small white brushstrokes indicate the bush onions.

The artist's style is minimalist and lyrical, and her works are featured in Australian and international collections.