Tingari Cycle, 2005 by Barney Campbell Tjakamarra 61x61cm Cat 9020BC

Barney Campbell Tjakamarra, born around 1928, was a distinguished Ngaayatjarra and Pintupi elder, recognised globally for his contributions to Indigenous Australian art. As a respected Law Man from the Kintore region near Lake MacDonald in the Northern Territory, Tjakamarra focused primarily on the Tingari Cycle in his work.

The Tingari Cycle, a central theme in his paintings, depicts sacred sites where young boys underwent initiation ceremonies. The Tingari are men from the Dreaming creation era who traveled vast distances, performing rituals, and shaping the land. Accompanied by novices and followed by Tingari women, their journeys and adventures are enshrined in song cycles. These stories are vital for post-initiatory teachings and explaining contemporary customs.

Tjakamarra's art, created while he sang to the Ancestors in his native Pintupi/Luritja language, captures these creation stories and the cultural laws they impart. His works are held in prominent collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Art Gallery of South Australia. Barney Campbell Tjakamarra passed away in 2006, leaving a profound legacy in Indigenous art and cultural preservation.