Deutscher and Hackett

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Papunya Tula Artists which states: ‘This painting depicts designs associated with the soakage water site of Puntujtalpa (Jupiter Well), in Western Australia. During ancestral times a large group of Tingari Men camped at this site before travelling south to the lake site of Ngarru. At Ngarru the men gathered the mulyati tree (Acacia jensenii) which, because of its long slender trunk, is used to make spears and digging sticks. The men later continued their journey towards the north east eventually arriving at Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay). Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail was given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of mythical characters of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari Men were usually followed by Tingari Women and accompanied by novices and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These mythologies form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs.’