Bush Yam Leavesby Rosemary Petyarre

This artwork depicts its interweaving leaves of Pencil yam plant in central Australia.

Pencil yam is an important bush tucker food for Aboriginal people and is a significant Dreaming stories form Utopia and whose to have attachment to the origins of the pencil yam. It is celebrated in their Awelye ceremonies. Certain song lines, body paint and dance cycles are performed to pay homage to ensure perpetual germination of the pencil yam plant.

The Aboriginal women from Utopia dig them up in creek-beds. They look for the white roots, then cook them in the hot earth beside the fire until they are just firm.

Artist:Rosemary Petyarre
Title:Bush Yam Leaves
ID:10012036
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:148 x 138 cm
Region:Utopia, Central Australia

Artist

Rosemary Petyarre was born in 1945 at Utopia, north east of Alice Springs in Central Australia.

Rosemary was involved in the making of batik and in 1994 she and several other women from Utopia travelled to Indonesia to learn different techniques for producing batik.

After the Summer Project, sponsored by CAAMA in 1988-89, she commenced painting with acrylic on canvas.

Rosemary Petyarre is surrounded by many other family members, who are all accomplished artists. Her Brother is Grenny Purvis Petyarre (passed away 2010), Rosemary sisters are Jeannie Petyarre and Evelyn Pultara.

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