Tingari Cycle (2006) by Barney Campbell Tjakamarra 152x91cm CAT 9462BC

Barney Campbell Tjakamarra, an internationally renowned artist, is celebrated for his paintings characterized by a wonderful subtlety, featuring roundels that float within a maze of sinuous lines. This iconography is profoundly reminiscent of ceremonial body designs and traditional ground drawings.

Tjakamarra often collaborated with Willy Tjungurrayi at Kintore. Like Tjungurrayi, Barney is a serious painter who faithfully portrays his 'dreamings' in a meticulous manner, adhering to a classical Pintupi style. The most common subject in Barney’s paintings is the Tingari Cycle.

The Tingari Cycle involves events of a secret and sacred nature, so few details are disclosed. Generally, the Tingari were men from the Dreaming creation era who traveled vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating significant sites. These men were accompanied by novices and usually followed by Tingari women. Their travels and adventures are immortalized in song cycles, which are crucial for the teachings of post-initiatory youths and provide explanations for contemporary customs.