Bush Medicine Leaf by Abie Loy Kemarre

Artist Statement: This is my grandfather's story. This country is known as Artenya. Ceremonies are held at this sacred site which is west from Mosquito Bore. The Bush Medicine Leaf Dreaming Trail goes to Mosquito Bore and stops there. The Bush Medicine Leaf Dreaming story refers to the leaves of a native shrub that is renowned for its medicinal properties. It grows abundantly in the desert regions of Utopia the artist's homeland north-east of Alice Springs. The leaves are invaluable to the people of Utopia for their health-giving and anti-septic properties. During the life of the plant the leaves change colour and as they do so they exhibit different medicinal properties. This Bush Medicine has been passed down over thousands of years and many generations and is still being used today by the people of Utopia.