Lot 38

Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (accompanied by a certificate of authenticity)
Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne (label verso)
Private collection, Melbourne

"This painting depicts designs relating to the claypan site of Mamultjulkulnga, on the western side of Lake Mackay. The artist's father passed away at this site. After rain the claypan becomes a shallow freshwater lake. In mythological times two Tingari men of the Tjangala and Tjapaltjarri kinship subsections camped at this site. They gathered the seeds known as mungilypa or samphire from the small fleshy sub-shrub known as Tecticornia verrucosa, which grows in flooded country. These seeds are ground into a paste which is cooked in the coals to form a type of unleavened bread. 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."
As stated on the Papunya Tula Artists certificate of authenticity

© George Tjungurrayi/Copyright Agency, 2023