Medicine Leaves (SSH)

Stephanie Singh – Highfold

Size: 122 x 91cm

The Story: “My name is Stephanie Singh – Highfold. I was born in the Alice Springs Hospital. My Father is Kokotha and my Mother is Ngarrindjeri. When I was born, my family took me to Ali Curung (a small community in the Barkly Region, Central Northern Territory). I was greeted by a Warlpiri Elder named Emily Rankine who gave me my skin name, Nabanunga. She pointed to a tree and said “when this tree weeps, I will know Stephanie is crying”. We lived in Ali Curung for 10 months, then went back to Adelaide. As I have been given my skin name, I am allowed me to paint Medicine leaves. Medicine Leaves is a dreaming story painted by the women in Central Australia”. Women collect medicine leaves, extract the resin, and mix it with kangaroo fat creating a medicinal paste that can be stored for a long time in bush. Painting Medicine Leaves pays respect 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.