![]() | Born: 1998 Language Group: Anmatyerre Country: Ingkwelay (Kurrajong Bore), Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Subjects: Ngkwerlp (Bush Tobacco) |
Alicia started painting for Mbantua Gallery in 2015 and paints under Violet Payne's stewardship. Violet is Alicia's aunt and she has been painting for Mbantua from an early age. Violet passed the story 'Ngkwerlp' onto Alicia, and Alicia developed her own style. She uses very fine dots.
Alicia paints the story of the wild tobacco or pituri (Nicotiana spp.). In Alicia's language it is called Ngkwerlp. This herb has soft leaves and creamy white, trumpet shaped flowers with two-valved seed capsules. Occurring naturally in Central Australia, it is found plentiful in Alicia's home in the Utopia Region, north east of Alice Springs. The leaf of the plant is picked and chewed by the aboriginal people and can also be used for medicinal purposes. In the olden days, and in some areas today, the seeds would be collected and replanted by the aboriginal people.