*Significant artwork*
Johnny Warangula Tjupurrula
Luritja people NT c.1925-2001
Tingari Cycle of Dreamtime
Acrylic on linen
213.5 x 235 cm
BCEC Art Collection
Johnny Warangula Tjupurrula was born in Minjirrpirri, north-west of Ilpilli. This is his ‘Country’ and from sites like Tjikarri and Kalipinpa within this area comes the inspiration for many of his works. Warrangula lived a traditional lifestyle through his younger, foundational years, recalling his first, frightened contact with Europeans; as a boy he hid from a plane which his people took for a “mamu” or devil. Johnny Warangula Tjupurrula remains one of the most celebrated artists of the Western Desert painting movement.
The subject matter of this painting has been taken from the Tingari Cycle. A large group of Tingari men are shown encamped at Tjikarri, north of Kintore. The concentric circles represent the Tingari while the background patterns indicate men’s ceremonial body paint designs.