Annie Nelson Napangardi

Bush Leaves  |  95h x 61w  |  RK088

Not stretched or framed  |  Acrylic on canvas

Annie Nelson grew up at Ti Tree, a small community approximately two hours North of Alice Springs. She is the daughter of senior elder and artist, Polly Nelson Nungala.

Annie started her artistic career with wood carvings and cultural jewellery, and began painting in early 2000. She often depicts motifs in her artworks that are typical for paintings from Central Australia including the Bush Plum (Seeds), Bush Medicine (Leaves), Bush Bean or Bush Berries Dreaming and Women’s Ceremony (Awelye).

In this painting, Annie paints the Bush Medicine Leaves. The Bush Medicine Plant is an Australian native that grows wild in Central Australia. Women go to different places around Utopia to collect leaves from these plants. Back at the camp, the leaves are boiled to extract the resin. Kangaroo fat is mixed into the resin, creating a paste that can be stored for a long time in bush conditions. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes, and acts as an insect repellent.

By painting about "Bush Medicine", Annie is paying homage to the spirit of the medicine plant in the hope that it will regenerate, enabling the people to continue to benefit from its healing properties.