Jacinda Hayes: Capturing Bush Medicine Leaves in Art 32x32cm FJ080JH

Warm desert hues with great depth into the background of black in this painting 'Bush Lcaptivates the change of seasons and how the leaves of bush leaf medicine change from season to season.

Jacinda Hayes has created a stunning series of paintings depicting Bush Medicine Leaves, a significant Dreaming story passed down from her grandmother, renowned artist Margaret Scobie, and great aunt Gloria Petyarre. Her work beautifully captures the essence of this ancestral knowledge, vital for healing. Using warm desert hues against a deep black background, Jacinda's paintings illustrate the changing seasons and the transformation of bush medicine leaves.

Born in 1992 at Woola Downs near Ti Tree, north of Alice Springs, Jacinda learned to paint from her grandmother. The Bush Medicine Leaf design is inspired by a native shrub abundant in Utopia's desert regions. These leaves change color and medicinal properties with the seasons. Jacinda’s brushstrokes, depicting the leaves drying in the sun, create a mesmerizing rhythm on the canvas.

The process of making bush medicine involves Aboriginal women from Utopia gathering the leaves, which are then dried, ground, and mixed with animal fats to extract medicinal oils. This traditional practice, integral to Aboriginal culture, has been used for thousands of years for spiritual and physical healing.

Jacinda, a mother of six, continues this artistic legacy, emphasizing the cultural and healing significance of Bush Medicine Leaves. Her work, rooted in deep cultural history, reflects the importance of these leaves in traditional health practices.