044
Timmy
Payungka Tjapangati
Pintupi (1942–2000)
Tingari Cycle, 1997
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
153 x 40cm
PROVENANCE
Gondwana Gallery, Alice Springs, NT, cat.no.2586; accompanied by original
certificate of authenticity
Private Collection, NT
Documentation reads
In this painting the artist depicts a subject which is associated with
a mythological event in the Tingari Cycle. It was during the Dreaming
when a large group of Tingari Ancestors (boys and men) travelled from
Wala Wala in the Gibson Desert east to Kiwirrkura then onto Yaru Yaru
and finally Tarla. At Tarla they prepared for Malliera (Initiation) ceremonies
part of which were associated with the rituals of body painting and engraving
and incising the sacred Tjuringas. The series of squares and rectangles
represent the Tjuringa designs while the background dotting symbolises
the body painting designs. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle
are of a secret nature no further detail was given.
Generally, the Tingari are a group of mythical characters 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 accompanied by novices and their travels and adventures
are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These mythologies form part
of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing
explanations for contemporary customs.