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1953
Language Group:Central and Western Arrernte (Aranda)
Country:Ntaria (Hermannsburg), West of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Watercolour on Board
Subjects:Women Collecting Imuna (Bush Food), Bird, Landscapes, Rock Bush Figs, Untitled Landscape
Marie is the daughter of Arthur and Katie (nee Uburtja) Abbott and grew up at Hermannsburg. Her brother, the late Clem Abbott, was a highly respected watercolourist from the Hermannsburg school.
In her earlier work Marie used watercolours to paint the landscape but her brother said that she should paint her own style. From this Marie developed a naturalistic style of landscapes using acrylic paint on canvas, eventually combining dotting into the landscape very successfully.
During the period 1993 to 1996 Marie would detail birds of the region into her landscapes. Since 1996, the subject of her work has been illustrating bush foods and women collecting bush foods using symbolic designs and dotting. Marie has been painting for Mbantua Gallery since 1987.
Marie painted a large mural at the Aboriginal Birthing Centre in Alice Springs. Marie is a registered Aboriginal health worker and studied a Batchelor in Aboriginal Health.
Marie paints the rock bush figs. These figs grow on a large shrub that has smooth grey bark and large glossy green, leathery leaves that were often used in women's leaf games and love magic. The figs are an important food source and can grow at any time of the year in frost free areas, depending on rainfall. In Aboriginal mythology this plant is also very important and in some places so sacred that anyone known to damage it may be killed.
