Tingari Cycleby Thomas Tjapaltjarri

This artwork refers to the Tingari Cycle - it recounts the extensive journeys of the Tingari ancestors as they covered the vast expanse of the Western desert to create landforms and teach law to the Pintupi people.

Tingari is instilled in a series of secret songlines and sacred men's business. The artist uses journey lines or over dotting as a device to protect the highly secretive and private elements.

Artist:Thomas Tjapaltjarri
Title:Tingari Cycle
ID:0861147
Medium:Acrylic on Belgian Linen
Size:36 x 36 cm
Region:Kiwirrkurra, Western Desert

Artist

Thomas Tjapaltjarri was born c. 1964 in the Gibson Desert, Western Australia. In 1984 he was one of a group of nine that made national headlines. Dubbed "the Last Nomads" the group caused a sensation when thy walked out of the desert and made contact with the "modern" world for the first time.

Leading a completely traditional existence before this time they were finally forced out of the desert to seek eligible wives for Thomas and his brothers Warlimpirrnga and Walala. Three years later Thomas commenced painting for Papunya Tula artists after encouragement from Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri.

Of the original group who emerged from the desert in 1984 the nomadic streak remains strongest perhaps in Thomas. Now an established and gifted artist Thomas paints in a style similar to that of his brothers.

The stories or "dreamings" of the Tingari Cycle are an important body of myth concerning the early journey paths of Tingari Ancestors throughout the "Tjukurrpa" or Dreamtime. It is these stories which Thomas conveys through his skilful brushwork across the canvas.

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