The painting represents the Pencil yam in its early stages of maturity. The Pencil yam is a staple food source (bush tucker) and when fully grown is gathered by the Aboriginal women from Utopia in central Australia.

The Pencil yam is celebrated in awelye ceremonies. Through body painting, song lines and dance cycles the women pay homage to the spirit of the yam plant to ensure its perpetual germination.

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

• Aboriginal Food
• Awelye (Womens Ceremony) Art
• Aboriginal Women
• Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories
• Utopia Aboriginal Art: Aboriginal Paintings from Central Desert