Cindy Morton Pwerle / Bush Plum Dreaming (CM22)

Cindy was born in 1976 in Utopia, NT, approximately 250 km north-east of Alice Springs. She comes from one of the most celebrated painting families in Australia. Cindy’s mother is senior artist Gracie Morton Pwerle and she is the niece of the late Gloria Petyarre and Kathleen Petyarre.

Cindy’s mother, grandmother and aunties started to paint on batik in the 1980’s and their work was featured in the prestigious Robert Holmes à Court Collection. Cindy grew up watching these incredible artists and took up painting in her late teens.

Using very delicate dots, Cindy depicts the bush plum seeds, a significant part of the dreamings and ceremonies owned by the people from the Utopia region.

The bush yam is renowned for its medicinal properties. It is a special plant that is used to aid in the healing process. The leaves and fruits are collected and then boiled to extract the resin from the leaves. After this the resin is mixed with kangaroo fat. This creates a paste that can be stored for up to six months in bush conditions. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes and as an insect repellent.

By painting the bush plum seeds, Cindy is paying homage to the spirit of the medicine plant in the hope that it will regenerate, enabling the people to use its healing powers.