Women's Ceremony for Bush Apple (2001) by Barbara Napangarti Reid 198x61cm

In this work Barbara depicts the Tingari women – represented by the U shapes– as they work within their country, gathering pintalypa or bush apples, and erecting wind-breaks.

The iconography used can also be read as representative of the body paint worn by Ngaanyatjarra women whilst performing these Tingari ceremonies: vitally important aspects of the continuity of cultural practice, in that they form a major part of the investiture teachings of the post-initiatory, as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs.