Yam Seed by Amy Napangardi

Yam Seed by Amy NapangardiIn the Dreamtime there are two parts to the Pencil Yam story that Amy paints. Two different seeds were borne that created two different species of pencil yam; one called Atnwelarr which belongs to Amy's country, and the other called Arlatyeye which belongs to Arnumarra country. Amy paints the seeds of Atnwelarr. The Atnwelarr itself is a long, skinny tubular yam (swollen root) belonging to a trailing herb or creeper that often covers large areas of

Central Australia

Skin name: Mpetyane (also spelled Mbitjana)

and then grind them into a powder that was used for making damper (bread)

Born: 1947

The inclusion of body paint designs here is symbolic of the habitual practice of honouring the land through ceremony and acknowledging the spiritual aspect of country

we know what their stories are

Cadmium Yellow

The ointment was applied to their face and their hair so that its powerful aroma would linger and aid in the relief of colds

180cm w x 120cm h x 2cm d

Dots in this painting represent anwekety (conkerberries)

60cm w x 45cm h x 2cm d

Skin name: Napangardi