Malliera Ceremonies (2005) by Barney Campbell Tjakamarra 122x91cm Cat 9353BC

Barney Campbell Tjakamarra, a senior law man and revered elder, is an internationally renowned artist known for his profound depictions of the Tingari Cycle. A founding member of the Papunya Tula art movement in the 1970s, Tjakamarra's work is celebrated for its subtlety and intricate details. His paintings are characterized by roundels floating in a maze of sinuous lines, reminiscent of ceremonial body designs and traditional ground drawings.

In "Malliera Ceremonies (2005)," Tjakamarra portrays the sacred sites where young boys underwent initiation ceremonies. The Tingari Cycle, central to his art, involves secretive and sacred rituals from the Dreaming creation era. The Tingari men traveled vast distances, performing rituals and shaping significant sites, accompanied by novices and usually followed by Tingari women. Their journeys and adventures are immortalized in song cycles, which are crucial for teaching post-initiatory youths and explaining contemporary customs.