Bat-Wing Coral, Red Bean Tree
Maker
Judy Watson (b.1959)
Date
2006
Description
Batwing Coral Trees are found from saltwater to desert. The wood is used for woomera shafts. I remember seeing red seeds on the tree in our country which women use for decoration. People eat the taproot of juvenile plants. There were no red seeds on this tree at this time of year so I scattered seeds from the Red Bean Tree, Adenanthera pavonina across the etching plate. Women use these seeds for adornment; they love to jangle them on their body as they dance. They are like points of reference or star constellations. They are associated with women’s business. The blood red ochre background wash is a dual reference to the Coppermine Massacres that occurred in the Daly in 1884 and the flooding river itself which was rising rapidly while we were there collecting images, ideas and materials for this project. I was reading historical and contemporary research material on the Daly River, loaned to me by Dr Sue Jackson, senior researcher at CSIRO, while I was making the work.
This work and documentation is the copyright of the artist and author and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the artist or author.
See full details
Object detail
48.5 x 39.5 cm (sheet)
Do you know something about this object?
Be the first to comment on this object record.