Rockholes and Malliera, 2002 by Dr George Tjapaltjarri 41x41cm

Rockholes and Malliera, 2002 by Dr. George Tjapaltjarri

A Sacred Dreaming Story from the Tingari Cycle

Dr. George Tjapaltjarri’s Rockholes and Malliera is a profound depiction of a highly significant Dreaming event within the Tingari Cycle, an essential spiritual narrative in Pintupi culture. The painting portrays Pintalpura (Jupiter Well) in the Gibson Desert, Western Australia, a sacred site where Tingari men conducted Malliera (young men’s initiation) ceremonies —a transformative passage into traditional law and knowledge.

Symbolism and Cultural Meaning

The white roundels against the deep black background symbolise the rocky outcrops surrounding Ungarla, visually representing:

• The sacred rockholes, vital sources of water and spiritual energy.
• The body paint used in initiation ceremonies, applied to young men as they enter into traditional law.
• The connection between the physical land and sacred rituals, where the Tingari ancestors shaped the landscape and passed down cultural knowledge.

This bold and minimalist composition is a striking fusion of landscape representation and ceremonial symbolism, reinforcing the spiritual and physical connection between people, country, and law.

The Secret and Sacred Tingari Cycle

Due to the sacred and secret nature of the Tingari Cycle, only limited details can be revealed. However, the Tingari were ancestral beings of the Dreaming era, who traveled vast distances across the desert, performing rituals, shaping sacred sites, and embedding their knowledge in ceremonial song cycles.

At Pintalpura, the Tingari men gathered essential bush resources such as:

• Kampararpa (desert raisin) – a small fruit used for sustenance.
• Purra (red gum antiseptic) – a powerful natural medicine derived from tree bark.

These Tingari men, accompanied by young initiates, were traditionally followed by Tingari women, ensuring the preservation and continuation of sacred customs. Their journeys and rituals remain enshrined in song cycles, which serve as oral records of ancestral teachings.

A Contemporary Expression of Ancestral Knowledge

Through Rockholes and Malliera , Dr. George Tjapaltjarri masterfully translates sacred storytelling into contemporary Indigenous Australian art, using abstract symbolism and minimalist aesthetics to express the profound spiritual and physical essence of the land.

This artwork serves as both a visual representation of Pintupi heritage and an enduring testament to the power of Indigenous knowledge systems.