This artwork depicts Grass Seeds, an important plant from the Utopia region in central Australia. The Anmatyerre people call it merne ntange ulyawe, its botanical name Portulca Olurecea.

Barbara paints the grass in all colours of its life cycle, from bright green after rain, the red of bush fires, and the grey and black after fires. The seeds of merne ntange ulyawe were an important food source for the Aboriginal people of this region, often ground up and made into cakes and damper.

If you would like to know more about Grass Seeds and the relationship with Aboriginal Art and culture, please read the following articles:

• Aboriginal Food
• Aboriginal Women
• Utopia Aboriginal Paintings from the Central Desert