Grass Seed Dreaming by Barbara Weir, 150x90cm

This artwork, "Grass Seed Dreaming" by Barbara Weir, beautifully illustrates the significance of Grass Seeds, specifically the pigweed or munyeroo (Portulaca oleracea), a crucial plant from the Utopia region in Central Australia. Known as Merne Ntange Ulyawa in Anmatyerre and Lyaw in Alyawarr, these seeds once formed an essential part of the traditional diet of the Aboriginal people. Though not particularly flavourful, they are rich in nutrients and were meticulously harvested at the perfect moment when the pigweed's stems shifted from green to pink, ensuring the seeds were mature but not yet fallen.

Barbara Weir's portrayal of the grass reflects the plant's life cycle, capturing the vibrant green after rains, the fiery reds following bushfires, and the somber greys and blacks in the aftermath of flames. Her use of colour conveys the dynamic relationship between the land and its people, highlighting the deep connection the Aboriginal people have with their environment.

The seeds, once collected, were dried, cleaned, roasted, and ground, consumed as a paste, patty, or cooked further. Beyond its nutritional value, the pigweed also holds medicinal importance, used as a purgative, cardiac tonic, and in treatments for conditions like osteoporosis and psoriasis. This artwork not only celebrates the natural beauty of Utopia but also preserves the cultural and medicinal heritage of its people.