Sandhills and Bush Apples (2000) by Barbara Napangarti Reid 122x192cm Cat 4966BR

"Sandhills and Bush Apples (2000)" by Barbara Napangarti Reid captures the essence of the Central Australian desert landscape. The painting, titled "Sandhills and Bush Apples," vividly depicts tali, the waving lines representing sweeping sand dunes. Additionally, it features bush apples, which are plentiful in season.

Reid's traditional method of representing geographic formations through stratified lines has its roots in the body paint worn by Ngaanyatjarra women during sacred ceremonies. These ceremonies are part of the secret and sacred Tingari Cycle from the Tjukurrpa (Creation Era), a spiritual amalgam of story, song, and ceremony. The Tingari Cycle narrates the journeys of ancestors who traveled vast stretches of the country, performing rituals that created the land formations of specific sites.

The site depicted in the painting is Tjukurla, located in the Gibson Desert of Western Australia, where Reid serves as custodian. This painting not only showcases the natural beauty of the region but also emphasizes the cultural significance of these sacred ceremonies.