Bush medicine exhibition shows the spirit of ancient healing practices

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Medical History Museum at the University of Melbourne the Museum has opened it's doors to The Art of Healing: An Australian Bush Medicine exhibition. The exhibition celebrates 65,000 years of Indigenous Australian healing practices through contemporary art, showcasing 46 Indigenous artist's work of bush medicine and healing. The theme of the exhibition is Tjukurpa (dreaming) and lore of traditional Indigenous healing practice, past, present and future. Aboriginal writer, artist, mentor and consultant Kat Clarke learned about bush remedies from her grandmother's while growing up in Wotjobaluk country in Victoria’s western districts. Kat is an Indigenous Student Support Officer in the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Learning and Teaching Unit and has produced five paintings for the exhibition. "They depict gum trees (Eucalyptus), bracken fern (Pteridium esculentum), Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), kangaroo apple (Solanum aviculare)and old man weed (Centipeda cunninghamii)." The funding for the exhibition came from the Wellcome Institute formed by a bequest by Henry Welcome who was a snake oil salesman from Canada who traveled to England. Wellcome formed the pharmaceutical company Burroughs Wellcome & Company, and was knighted for his work in the industry. University of Melbourne Medical History Museum and Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum Senior Curator Jacqueline Healy says "Henry Welcome's bequest is the largest private research fund. History was important to him." She says "The aim of the The Art of Healing: An Australian Bush Medicine exhibition is to show the currency of healing practice and traditions through contemporary art. They also remind us of the importance of cultural and social frameworks for the well being of all communities.” The Art of Healing: An Australian Bush Medicine exhibition runs until the 24th September.