Tingari Cycle, 2000 by Dr George Tjapaltjarri 112x152cm

Tingari Cycle, 2000 – Dr George Tjapaltjarri (112x152cm)

Dr George Tjapaltjarri’s Tingari Cycle (2000) is a highly collectible and culturally significant work, executed in the artist’s classic traditional iconography. This striking painting, rendered in rich ochre red against a crisp white background, embodies the sacred Tingari Cycle —one of the most profound and secretive narratives in Pintupi law and ceremony.

The concentric circles symbolise the sacred sites where the Tingari —ancestral men of the Dreaming era—stopped to perform rituals, shaping and defining the landscape. The connecting lines represent their journey across vast desert regions, while the distinctive U -shaped motifs denote the presence of the men themselves. This intricate composition maps the sacred travels and ceremonial acts that continue to inform the teachings of Pintupi initiates today.

The site depicted in this painting is Pintalpura (Jupiter Well) in the Gibson Desert, Dr George’s ancestral homeland and an important location where the Tingari performed Malliera (young men’s initiation) ceremonies. These ceremonies, which remain highly secretive, introduce initiates to deeper layers of cultural knowledge, sacred songs, and the spiritual significance of the land. At Pintalpura , the Tingari ancestors also gathered kampararpa (desert raisin) and purra (a potent antiseptic from red gum bark), emphasizing the deep connection between ceremony, survival, and the land.

As a revered Ngankari (traditional healer) and senior lawman, Dr George was entrusted with the knowledge and custodianship of these sacred traditions, presiding over ceremonies and ensuring their continuation throughout his lifetime. His paintings serve as visual records of these enduring teachings, making Tingari Cycle not only a stunning artistic statement but also an invaluable cultural document.

This exceptional piece is a must-have for serious collectors of Indigenous Australian art, offering both artistic mastery and profound spiritual significance. Tingari Cycle represents a rare opportunity to own a work by one of the most respected lawmen of his generation, whose contributions to art and culture remain unparalleled.