Thursday 29 September 2011

Nora Kemarre

In her paintings Nora shows us the Bush Medicine Dreaming. The Bush Medicine Plant is an
Australian native that grows wild in Central Australia. Women go to different places around
Utopia to collect leaves from these plants. Back at the camp the leaves are boiled to extract
resin. Kangaroo fat is mixed into the resin, creating a paste that can be stored for a long time
in bush conditions. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes and also acts as
an insect repellent.

By painting about "Bush Medicine" Nora is paying homage to the spirit of the medicine plant
in the hope that it will regenerate, enabling the people to continue to benefit from its healing
properties.

The bush medicine ceremony is performed at different times of the year. In preparation for the
ceremony the women paint their bodies with special markings for that particular ceremony.
Ochre and Spinifex ashes are mixed with Kangaroo or Emu fat to make the body-paint. Body-
painting ranges from simply smearing clay across the face, to intricate full body patterning.
Ceremonies always involve song, dance and body decoration, the ownership, management
and performance of the ceremony is dependent upon knowledge, status and initiation level of
the participants. 



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