Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri Indigenous Australian (Pintupi), b. 1958

This painting depicts designs associated with the swamp site of “Marawa”, situated slightly west of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay). There is also a rockhole and soakage waters at this site. During ancestral times, a large group of Tingari men travelled to Marawa from the west, and after arriving at the site, passed beneath the earth's surface and continued traveling underground. It is also said that a whuge ancestral al snake sleeps in this swamp. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature, no future detail is given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of ancestral beings of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari men were usually followed by Tingari women and were accompanied by novices, and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These ancestral stories form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today, as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs.

Please note that all First Nations Art is created from a so called ‘Birds Eye’ view. This means that the paintings can be hung either horizontally as well as vertically.