Abie Loy Kemarre / Bush Medicine Leaves

Abie Loy Kemarre was born in 1972 at Utopia Station, 275 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs in the Northern territory of Central Australia. Abie Loy Kemarre belongs to the Anmatyerr clan group and speaks Eastern Anmatyerr with English as a second language.

Abie Loy Kemarre lives at Mosquito Bore near Utopia Station with her husband Terry Rumble and her family group comprising her mother Margaret Loy, her brothers and sisters and her grandmother, Kathleen Petyarre. Currently, Abie divides her time between Adelaide, South Australia, Mosquito Bore and Lake Nash.

Abie began painting in 1994 under the tutelage of her famous grandmother, Kathleen Petyarre. She has custodial rights of the Bush Hen Dreaming which she depicts as well as her associated Country, sandhills and body painting series of works.

Through her powerful and beautiful paintings, Abie Loy Kemarre is able to convey to the viewer the sensitivity and strength she derives from her Dreaming and her country.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2006
•    Abie Loy Kemarre, Bush Leaf & Other Dreamings, Gadfly Gallery, Dalkeith, WA

2005
•    Abie Loy Kemarre, New Paintings, Gadfly Gallery, Perth, WA
•    Abie Loy Kemarre, Solo Exhibition, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, VIC

2004
•    Abie Loy Kemarre, Solo Exhibition, Gadfly Gallery, Perth, WA
•    Abie Loy Kemarre, Solo Exhibition, Coo-ee Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2003
•    Abie Loy Kemarre, Solo Exhibition, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, VIC

Selected Collections
•    The Art Gallery of South Australia, South Australia
•    Festival of Arts Foundation Collection, Adelaide, South Australia
•    The Adelaide University Art Collection, South Australia
•    The Levi-Kaplan Collection, Seattle, USA
•    The Kelton Foundation, Los Angeles, USA
•    The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Commission Collection
•    The National Gallery of Victoria, Victoria
•    Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth, Western Australia

Abie Loy’s ‘Bush Hen Dreaming’ depicts the journey of the Bush Hen, as she roams in search of her favourite fruit, the solanum berries. The Bush Hen Dreaming is significant to the Utopia region in central Australia, and certain persons who are attached to this Dreaming. The fruit contains small hard stones, as well as seeds, which provides food for birds and other wildlife. The tubers are an important food source for Aboriginal people and can be eaten either roasted or raw. The Aboriginal women pay homage to the Bush Hen ancestor in their Awelye ceremonies. Certain songlines and dance cycles are performed. Particular markings are applied to the upper body to re-enact the Bush Hen ancestor. The painting depicts the journey of the Bush Hen (turkey) as she roams in search of her favourite fruit, the solanum berries similar to the desert raisin. The women from the Eastern Anmatyerre country, Utopia, pay homage to the Bush Hen Ancestor in their ceremonies and perform song and dance cycles.