Pencil Yam by Eileen Bird Kngwarreye

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EILEEN BIRD KNGWARREYE - PENCIL YAM

Eileen paints the Desert Yam (or Pencil Yam / Bush Potato) story. This yam grows underground with its viny shrub growing above ground up to one metre high. It is normally found on Spinifex sand plains and produces large colourful flowers after summer rain. 

The yam is a tuber, or swollen root, of the shrub and tastes much like the common sweet potato. It can be eaten raw or cooked and is still a staple food f where it can be harvested at any time of the year. It is also renowned for its medicinal properties. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes and as an insect repellent.

In this painting, Eileen depicts the seed of the yam (dot work) and its flower (brush work) paying homage to the spirit of this special plant in the hope that it will regenerate.

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