This etching by Aboriginal artist Dennis Nona symbolizes the Kerr Kerr, a medicinal plant used to heal sick babies. Ginger harvested from the mountaintops of Badu Island is pressed, and the extracted juice is collected in a shell container (Alup). The ointment is applied to the skin of babies weakened by colds or suffering from skin diseases (Zurr), which are common in September and October. This treatment was traditionally practiced in the western Torres Strait islands and was passed down to Dennis Nona by an elder, James Eseli. When applied once daily for several days, the baby recovers.

Dennis Nona’s ancestors often visit him in dreams and inspire him with new technical approaches. In this Aboriginal artwork, the application of the treatment and the baby’s back are condensed into a single image. The swirling motifs (Minnor) at the bottom represent the motion used to rub in the ointment, while the diamond-shaped patterns at the top evoke the skin disease on the babies. The central area shows the movement of the disease beneath the skin.

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