Malliera Ceremonies, 2000 by Dr George Tjapaltjarri, 198x61cm

Malliera Ceremonies, 2000 by Dr. George Tjapaltjarri

A striking composition of bold red lines over a stark white background, Malliera Ceremonies embodies the raw power of mark-making deeply rooted in ancient traditions. Dr. George Tjapaltjarri, a revered Ngankari (traditional healer), infuses his work with profound spiritual resonance, drawing from sacred knowledge that remains largely undisclosed to the uninitiated.

His paintings evoke the presence of body scarring, fire sticks, and the symbolic thresholds into sacred caves—sites of deep ancestral significance. Yet, true to his cultural obligations, the deeper meanings remain veiled, preserving the sanctity of his knowledge.

Beyond his artistic legacy, Dr. George’s extraordinary healing abilities were recognized not only among his own people but also by Western medical practitioners during the 1960s, when the Pintupi people first made contact with the broader world. His art serves as both an aesthetic and spiritual portal—offering collectors a rare connection to one of the last great desert healers and the enduring mysteries of the Dreaming.