Bush Berries by Josepha Petrick Kemarre (SOLD)

This painting depicts a variety of edible berries and bush flowers found in the Central Australian bush that the women used to collect for the community. One variety of berry is a mistletoe called angkwerrpme. After significant rainfall, angkwerrpme will grow and change from green to shades of yellow, red and orange before finally a blueish purple (close to black) when they fall from the stem. The square design in the centre of this painting is symbolic of a coolamon (carved wooden bowl) being used to carry the berries and flowers, as well as the ripening journey, travelling path and song lines of the food being collected and celebrated after rain.