Bush Medicine 2000 by Abie Loy Kemarre, 152x31cm 5361AL

Bush Medicine (2000) by Abie Loy Kemarre – 152 x 31 cm

Celebrated Eastern Anmatyerre artist Abie Loy Kemarre brings a lyrical intensity and refined technique to her work, capturing the rhythm, energy, and deep cultural resonance of her Utopia homeland. In Bush Medicine (2000), her intricate mark-making evokes the sacred knowledge and ceremonial practices passed down through generations of Anmatyerre women.

Bush medicine is a vital part of cultural learning, closely tied to Awelye —women’s ceremonial business. During these rituals, women paint their bodies with natural ochres, sing, and dance, expressing their ancestral Dreaming stories. These body designs, applied delicately with the fingertips, symbolise each woman’s custodial responsibilities and her connection to Country.

Awelye is both an act of ceremony and a visual language, honouring identity, kinship, and land. It continues to be practised by the Eastern Anmatyerre people, especially near Mosquito Bore, where women gather to share stories, perform rituals, and pass on sacred knowledge.

In Bush Medicine , Abie Loy Kemarre offers more than an artwork—she offers a visual songline, honouring the strength of women’s knowledge systems and the enduring legacy of cultural tradition.