Bush Yam Leaves & Seeds by Rosemary Petyarre
Title: Bush Yam Leaves & Seeds
ID: 10042106
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 160x119 cm
Artist: Rosemary Petyarre
This artwork depicts leaves of the Pencil yam plant and its seeds, which were once an important food source for the Anmatyerre people of Utopia 
in central Australia. There are many Dreaming rituals attached to this plant and homage is paid by the women in their awelye ceremonies.
The Aboriginal women would gather the seeds, then crush and grind them into a thick paste to make bread. In years past, grass seeds were collected in a most unusual way. Because seeds ripened at different stages, many would fall to the ground and be covered by sand, lost from view. Ingeniously the Aboriginal women would look for the nesting site of a particular ant species that they knew collected the seeds, eating a certain portion before discarding the rest in a pile outside the nest. Once the nest was found the women were able to collect the cast off seeds more easily.
If you would like to know more about Bush Yam Leaves & Seed and the relationship with Aboriginal Art and culture, please read the following articles:
An Australian Aboriginal artwork should always be issued with a Certificate of Provenance, also known as a Certificate of Authenticity. This document contains vital information on the artist, as well as details about the artwork itself. When selling on an artwork, please ensure that this document is passed on. Authenticity of Provenance means that the origin or authorship of a work of art has been correctly identified.
Central Art follows a well defined provenance and authenticity process to ensure that we are an exemplar in our business practice . Careful and detailed documentation follows – each work is given a catalogue number, inscribed on the back of the artwork with the Central Art stamped logo, the artist's signature and the title of the work.
Printed on the Certificate of Provenance is a copyright acknowledgement that reads as follows:
This work is copyright. The copyright is owned by the Artist and his/her people. This painting may not be reproduced in part, in whole, or in any other form without the permission of the Artist or his/her inheritors clearly in writing, with all knowledge prior to final proof to the family concerned – then only when clearance has been approved.
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