Tingari Cycle (2005) by Barney Campbell Tjakamarra 152x76cm Cat 9396BC

A senior law man, Barney Campbell was one of the founding members of the Papunya Tula art movement in the 1970’s.

The iconography in Barney Campbell works is profoundly reminiscent of ceremonial body designs and traditional ground drawings. The most common subject depicted in Barney’s paintings is that of the Tingari Cycle.

Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret and sacred nature few details are given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of men of the Dreaming (creation era) who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari men were accompanied by novices and usually followed by Tingari Women. Their travels and adventures are enshrined in the song cycles. These legends form part of the teachings of the post-initiatory youths today, as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs.