Rockholes at Ungarla, 1999 by Dr George Tjapaltjarri 198x61cm

Rockholes at Ungarla, 1999 by Dr. George Tjapaltjarri - A Powerful Depiction of the Tingari Cycle

Dr. George Tjapaltjarri’s Rockholes at Ungarla (1999) is a striking visual representation of a highly significant Dreaming event from the Tingari Cycle, set in Ungarla, west of Kiwirrkurra and Pintalpura (Jupiter Well) in the Gibson Desert—his ancestral homeland. This sacred site is where the Tingari men performed Malliera, the initiation ceremonies that mark the transition of young men into the law of the land.

The bold yellow and white roundels against a black background symbolize the rockholes and rugged outcrops of the terrain surrounding Ungarla. These are sacred meeting places where ceremonial dances, body painting, and ancient rituals are performed. The dotted white line over red represents the ceremonial fire sticks carried by the Tingari men—tools of both ritual and environmental care, used to burn spinifex as part of land management practices that continue to shape the desert landscape. The white and yellow dot work forms illusions of roundels, signifying the different stages of the controlled burning process, integral to both cultural and ecological balance.

This masterpiece blends topographical elements with ceremonial iconography, reflecting the connection between land, lore, and identity. The use of ochre hues references both the physical geography of Ungarla and Pintalpura and the body paint applied during Tingari ceremonies, reinforcing the sacred continuity between people and Country.

Cultural Significance & The Tingari Cycle

As with all Tingari narratives, much of the knowledge remains secret and sacred, revealed only to initiated custodians of the lore. Broadly, the Tingari men were powerful ancestral beings of the Dreaming (Creation Era) who traversed vast stretches of desert, performing rituals, shaping the landscape, and embedding sacred songlines into the earth. They were accompanied by young initiates and followed by Tingari women, who played key roles in ceremonial practices. Their travels and adventures are enshrined in epic song cycles, which continue to inform the teachings of post-initiation youth, ensuring the transmission of knowledge, law, and tradition across generations.

For collectors, Rockholes at Ungarla is a rare and significant acquisition— a powerful fusion of storytelling, ancestral wisdom, and masterful desert iconography. Dr. George Tjapaltjarri’s work stands as a testament to the enduring strength of the Pintupi people and the sacred traditions that continue to define Australia’s cultural landscape.