Rocky Outcrops at Ungarla, 2001 by Dr George Tjapaltjarri 91x61cm

Rocky Outcrops at Ungarla, 2001 by Dr George Tjapaltjarri (91x61cm) – A Vision of Ancestral Power

Dr George Tjapaltjarri’s Rocky Outcrops at Ungarla (2001) is a strikingly minimalist yet deeply symbolic portrayal of the sacred landscape of Ungarla, a site of profound ancestral significance in the Gibson Desert, Western Australia. Rendered in yellow ochre and white roundels, the painting evokes both the rocky outcrops that define the rugged terrain of the region and the ceremonial body designs worn during sacred Tingari rituals.

Recognized from birth as a Ngankari (traditional medicine man), Dr George was destined to become a powerful healer, bush doctor, and lawman, dedicating his life to presiding over ceremonies and safeguarding ancestral knowledge. His deep spiritual and cultural responsibilities are reflected in his work, where each mark and symbol carries the weight of sacred law and tradition.

This painting is intrinsically connected to the Tingari Cycle, an epic Dreaming narrative that recounts the travels, rituals, and laws of the mythical Tingari ancestors, who shaped the land and established the foundations of Indigenous ceremonial life. However, much of this sacred knowledge remains secret and restricted, known only to initiated men who continue to uphold these ancient traditions.

In Rocky Outcrops at Ungarla , Dr George distills these sacred teachings and landscapes into an abstract yet spiritually charged composition, where each ochre-infused form resonates with ancestral presence. The artwork serves as more than just a depiction of place—it is a visual invocation of Dreaming law, a reminder of the enduring connection between land, culture, and ceremony that defines the Pintupi people’s spiritual heritage.