Malliera Ceremonies by Barney Campbell Tjakamarra 122x122cm 9472BC

Malliera Ceremonies by esteemed Pintupi artist Barney Campbell Tjakamarra is an exceptionally beautiful and culturally rich painting that depicts post-initiation ceremonies, drawing deeply on the artist’s knowledge of the Tingari Cycle.

Barney Campbell’s work is distinguished by its intricate maze of sinuous lines—an evocative visual language that echoes the ceremonial body paint and traditional ground designs used in sacred men’s business. These patterns are not merely decorative; they carry ancestral knowledge and spiritual resonance, forming a vital part of ritual practice and storytelling.

A serious and devoted painter, Barney approaches his Dreamings with meticulous precision and unwavering respect. His works exemplify the classical Pintupi style, where each line and symbol serves to map both country and cultural memory.

The Tingari are ancestral men of the Dreaming who journeyed across vast stretches of desert country, performing sacred rituals, shaping the land, and creating songlines that endure through generations. Often accompanied by novices and followed by Tingari women, their stories are embedded in song cycles that continue to instruct young initiates today. These narratives not only explain the origins of landscape features but also underpin the customs and laws still practised by the Pintupi people.