Ancestral Spirit at Lake Mackay, 1996 by Linda Syddick Napaltjarri 42x57cm

Title: Ancestral Spirit at Lake Mackay

Date: 1996

Country: Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) / Western Desert

The Tingari Dreaming story is about the ancestral spirit beings, who went on very long journeys, creating much of the desert landscape in Central Australia, and instructing the people about law and custom. Linda paints country mostly around Lake MacKay, which for thousands of years has been central to the cultural and spiritual life of the Pintupi people. The people used to camp around the shores of Lake Mackay during their seasonal journeys across country and gather there for ceremonies. Lake Mackay is a large dry salt lake, which straddles the WA-NT border, northwest of Kintore. It is where Linda was born and travelled across for most of her early childhood.