Amwekety (Bush Plum), 2001 by Gracie Morton, 61x61cm, Cat 6740GM

"Amwekety (Bush Plum), 2001" by Gracie Morton vividly depicts her Bush Plum (Amwekety) Dreaming, connected to her traditional country of Mosquito Bore, 263 km north of Alice Springs. Using an aerial perspective, Gracie's delicate dotting and colour variation portray the landscape during summer months when Bush Plum seeds split open and husks scatter across the ground.

The Bush Plum is a prostrate plant that bursts into a profusion of colour after rain but quickly disintegrates in the intense summer heat. This small fruit, with black seeds, can be eaten raw or cooked into bush damper and is extremely high in vitamin C.

Gracie's art not only showcases the natural beauty of the Bush Plum but also reflects the rich cultural traditions of her ancestral land, preserving and celebrating her heritage through every dot and stroke.

Belonging to the Alyawarre language group, Gracie Morton Pwerle's surname appears in various spellings (Pwerle, Pwerl, Purle, or Ngale) due to different linguistic interpretations.

Curator’s Note: Introducing this beautifully subtle work is a detailed section of the painting. Please press the arrows to see the overall painting and other close-up photos.