Malliera Ceremonies, 2002 by Dr George Tjapaltjarri 122x152cm Cat 4404DG

Many ceremonies are held in desert sand hill country, known as 'Tali'. The shifting sands of the Tali reference the changes in one's life as one progresses from childhood to adulthood.

There is a post-initiatory stage called Malliera Ceremonies that can last 3-6 months each time. The newly initiated men are often subject to extreme, physical and mentally exhausting circumstances where new learning about their country, associated songs and body paint is revealed layer by layer.