Pencil Yam by Carol Kunoth Kngwarreye (SOLD)

Pencil yams are small tubers growing beneath the surface of a native trailing herb. They are an important food source which can be eaten raw or cooked in hot sand and ashes, and are still harvested today. Above ground, the leaves of this herb will cover large areas of ground after significant rain and small yellow flowers bloom. The leaves are bright green and bring the bush to life.

In the Dreamtime, the pencil yam seeds called Kame are especially significant. Two different seeds were borne that created two different species of pencil yam; one called Atnwelarr and one called Arlatyeye. Atnwelarr belongs to Carol's country. Carol depicts these seeds through use of dots.

Artist

Name: Carol Kunoth
Skin name: Kngwarreye
Language group: Anmatyerre
Country: Alhalkere 
Region: Utopia, Central Australia
Born: 1957