Woman Collecting Bush Tucker
Sharon Napanangka Butcher
92cm x 72cm

Woman Collecting Bush Tucker
By Sharon Napanangka Butcher

This painting tells the story of a woman walking across her Country collecting bush tucker to feed her family. The circles represent important places in the land, waterholes, resting places, and gathering sites where women meet and share knowledge. The flowing lines show the paths she travels as she moves through the desert, following the tracks and seasons that guide her to food.

In Warlpiri culture, women have deep knowledge of the land. They know where to find bush tomatoes, witchetty grubs, bush onions, and other foods that grow after the rain. This knowledge is passed down through generations, from grandmothers to mothers to daughters, ensuring the traditions of caring for Country continue.

As the woman walks across the land, she is not just gathering food, she is practicing culture, teaching the younger women, and maintaining a strong connection to her ancestors and Country. Every step she takes follows ancient pathways walked for thousands of years.

Sharon Napanangka Butcher’s painting celebrates the strength, knowledge, and role of women in caring for the land and providing for their families. Through her vibrant colours and flowing patterns, she shares a story of culture, survival, and the enduring relationship between people and Country.