Artwork Story
Abie's painting represents awelye (women's ceremony and body paint designs) for bush medicine. Abie depicts the flowers of the antywerleny (Acacia tenuissima), a type of wattle. The leaves are crushed and mixed with animal fat for use as a medicinal ointment. Linear designs represent Awelye. These designs are painted onto the chest, breasts, arms and thighs. Powders ground from red and yellow ochre (clays), charcoal and ash are used as body paint and applied with a flat stick with soft padding. The women sing the songs associated with their Awelye as each woman takes her turn to be 'painted-up'. Women perform Awelye ceremonies to demonstrate respect for their country and the total well-being and health of their community.
