Lake Mackay (the Tingari Cycle), 2005 by Walala Tjapaltjarri 61x198cm Cat 9364WT

"Lake Mackay (The Tingari Cycle), 2005" by Walala Tjapaltjarri is a profound work associated with a Jukurrpa (Dreaming) event in the Tingari Cycle. This piece focuses on the site of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) in Western Australia, where two old Tingari men hunted Marlu (Kangaroo) by burning the spinifex country with fire sticks to flush out their game. The Marlu were eventually pursued north to Derby in the Kimberley region, via Balgo Hills and Halls Creek.

The painting's white rectangles symbolize the sediment of Lake Mackay, a vast saltwater lake where evaporating water leaves extensive clay pans fringed by salt. Rocky outcrops and rockholes, depicted by yellow and red ochre rectangles, provide crucial water and bush foods. These rockholes become vital water catchment areas after rain, illustrated by the yellow ochre rectangles in Walala’s work.

Walala and his family, often referred to as "The Last of the Nomads," walked out of the desert in 1984, maintaining their traditional lifestyle while avoiding integration with other Pintupi and Euro-Australians. As the famous Jimmy Pike from the Great Sandy Desert once said, "You call it desert, we call it home."

The Tingari Cycle's events are secret and sacred. Generally, the Tingari are Jukurrpa ancestors who traveled vast stretches, performing rituals that shaped the land formations of various sites. These ancestors were accompanied by novices and followed by Tingari women. Their journeys and adventures, enshrined in song cycles, are crucial for post-initiatory teachings and contemporary customs. Walala’s painting captures these profound traditions, blending his artistic vision with deep cultural significance.