Marlene Doolan Kemarre was born at Santa Teresa, in 1970. She began painting early on in her life. Marlene paints in the distinctive Santa Teresa style which is recognised by its fine dots and attention to detail. She paints ” Spiritual Dancing”, “Spirit People” and “Wild Bush Onion”. Wild Bush Onion is very special to those who own the dreaming for it as the wild onion has to be collected in a certain way according to Eastern Arrernte law.
Bush Onion or Yalke gets dug out by the women in a special way in the winter, and cooked in hot sand near a camp fire. The women will often pay homage to the spirit of the Bush Onion in traditional women’s ceremonies to ensure its perpetual germination.
