Maudie Napanangka Nelson

Maudie is depicing the Walpiri women’s knowledge of bush medicine. The women know which leaves bring medicinal healing for many health ailments. Sometimes the leaves are cut from the trees and steeped in boiling water to make an infusion that is good for soothing a stomach ache. Other leaves are boiled to extract the resin which is then mixed with the fat from the kangaroo’s stomach. The resultant ointment has its own specific cure – maybe for an insect bite or sting, a rash or an infected wound. In this painting Maudie shows a range of leaves resting on the bush floor or maybe blowing in the wind.