Here, Wati Tjungarrayi Kutjarra [Two Tjungarrayi Brothers] perform Kapi [rain making] ceremonies at Warlukirritji held by Linda’s beloved adoptive father, Shorty Lungkata Tjungarrayi. He was born here, in Tjungarrayi/Nungarrayi Tjapaltjarri/Napaltjarri...
Here, Wati Tjungarrayi Kutjarra [Two Tjungarrayi Brothers] perform Kapi [rain making] ceremonies at Warlukirritji held by Linda’s beloved adoptive father, Shorty Lungkata Tjungarrayi. He was born here, in Tjungarrayi/Nungarrayi Tjapaltjarri/Napaltjarri Country, south of Karrkurutinyja [Lake McDonald]. The Tjungarrayi brothers carry nulla nullas for digging, killing game, and fighting. The large roundel represent Warlukirritji rockholes. One large rockhole is hidden by small puli [rock outcrop], but is so vast young Linda nearly drowned there, taken by a Mamu [Monster/Devil Spirit], and saved by her mother. Warlukirritji is an ancient place of importance. Impermanent claypans and rockholes exist beyond, but Warlukirritji holds permanent water, forever protected by Wanampi Tjungarrayi [Tjungarrayi Rainbow Serpents]. In this painting Linda honours her beloved kin: biological and adoptive fathers, each Tjungarrayi, now Tingarri Ancestors, and her two Tjapaltjarri brothers, sadly also deceased. Tingarri Song and Ceremonial cycles, traversing vast deserts embed Warlukirritji in a much broader web of Law, interconnecting people, species and places. Tingarri Ancestors, human/animal, male/female, interact, live, love and die, transgress, transform, fight, and give succour, perform ceremonies, and create geophysical and geographical site features. Tingarri also modify previously isolated sites, reviving and extending more ancient and localised traditions, as occurs at Warlukirritji. Tingarri oral narratives stretch to thousands of verses, broken into different sections, held by different people, at different sites. They provide countless topographical details that assist in navigation and survival. Law enshrined in song cycles, connecting these diverse linguistic/cultural groups across vast distances. Public versions disclose no secret sacred knowledge, and Tingarri-related visual designs are usually considered dear to Pintupi families, rather than dangerous. Warlukirritji is part of one of three major Tingarri journey/song lines that traverse the Country and travels from near Walungurru [Kintore], doubling back to Karrkurutinyja and then to Ikuntji [Haasts Bluff].