Louise Numina Napananka

Bush Medicine Leaves | 90h x 150w | RK790

Not framed or stretched | Acrylic on canvas

Louise Numina was born in 1976 and is an Anmatyerre artist from Ti Tree, 190km North of Alice Springs in Central Australia. She grew up on Stirling Station, a cattle station south of Tennant Creek along with her six sisters and three brothers, where she attended primary school and later moved to Alice Springs to attend Yirara College.

After she completed her school studies Louise moved back to Stirling station and worked with the Community Development Program. Her aunties, very famous artists, Gloria and Kathleen Petyerre taught Louise to paint in 1981 and she sold her art through galleries in Alice Springs and across the Northern Territory up to Darwin, where she eventually moved in 1995.

Louise’s paintings predominantly depict Kurrajong Bush Medicine Leaves. The women collect the Kurrajong Bush Medicine leaves from around the central desert area. The leaves are then boiled in a large tin bucket. The Kurrajong leaves are good for treating the flu, headache, backache, upset stomach and chest pains – where the leaves are repeatedly firmly pressed against the persons back or chest. For cuts and bruises the leaves are boiled longer until the oils float in them, it is mixed with an animal fat then applied to the wounds.