Tingari Cycleby Walala Tjapaltjarri

The design of this artwork is a dominant narrative of the Pintupi people from the Western desert.

It refers to the Tingari Cycle - the story of the extensive journeys of Pintupi ancestors as they covered the vast expanse of the desert to create landforms and teach law. The Tingari is associated with secret and sacred men's business and the dominant mode is overtly geographic with a circle and line motif.

Artist:Walala Tjapaltjarri
Title:Tingari Cycle
ID:10022044
Medium:Acrylic on Belgian Linen
Size:120 x 30 cm
Region:Kiwirrkurra, Western Desert

Artist

Walala was born in the early 1960’s in the Gibson Desert and as one of nine lived a nomadic life (including his brothers Warlimpirrnga and Thomas). They made history in October 1984 when they had first contact with ‘the outside world and Europeans’ for the first time.

Walala paints the Tingari Cycle, which is a series of sacred and secret song-lines. These Tingari are associated with his Dreaming sites at Marua, Mintarnpi, Wanapatangu, Minna Minna, Naami, Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) and Yarrawangu, which are all in the Gibson Desert, Western Australia.

These were some of the places where the Tingari Ancestors stopped for ceremonies during their travels across the country.

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