Walala Tjapaltjarri (b. c1960) Language: Pintupi Region: Kiwirrkuru In late 1984 Walala Tjapaltjarri and several other members of the Pintupi Tribe walked out of the remote wilderness of the Gibson Desert in Western Australia and made contact for the first time with European society. Described as 'The Lost Tribe', he and his family created international headlines. Until that day in 1984, Walala and his family lived the traditional and nomadic life of a hunter-gatherer society. Their intimate knowledge of the land, its flora and fauna and waterholes allowed them to survive, as their ancestors had for thousands of years. It is this sacred landscape, and its significant sites, that Walala so strikingly describes in his paintings. His style is generally highlighted by a series of rectangles set against a monochrome background. He paints the Tingari Cycle (a series of sacred and secret mythological song cycles) which are associated with the artist's many dreaming sites - they are Wilkinkarra, Maruwa, Tarrku, Njami and Yarrawangu, to name a few. These Dreamings are the locations of significant rockholes, sandhills, sacred mountains and water soakages in the Gibson Desert. (http://www.kateowengallery.com/artists/Wal90/Walala-Tjapaltjarri.htm, accessed 18 May 2015) Walala Tjapaltjarri started painting in 1997. His earliest works were in a classical Tingari style usually reserved for body painting, ground painting and the decoration of traditional artifacts. Within a couple of months his painting had evolved into his own innovative style of work, including the abstraction of classical Pintupi designs which resulted in a highly graphic language to speak of his country and ceremonial sites. The rectangles so prominent in his paintings form both a physical and spiritual map establishing Walala as a discerning draughtsman for his ancient country. (http://www.kateowengallery.com/artists/Wal90/Walala-Tjapaltjarri.htm, accessed 18 May 2015) This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Tingari Cycle - During the Tjukurrpa (Creation Era) Tingari ancestors beings gathered at a series of sites for Malliera (Initiation) Ceremonies. They travelled vast stretches of the country, performing rituals at specific sites that in turn created the diverse natural features of the environment. The Tingari men were accompanied by novices and usually followed by Tingari Women. The creation stories and rituals are venerated in the song cycles and ceremonies of today, forming part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths, whilst also providing explanations for contemporary customs. Walala Tjapaltjarri uses a highly personalised and minimal style to represent aspects of the sacred Tingari Cycle, an epic journey of Ancestors of the TJukurrpa (Creation Era). He paints aspects of the Tingari Cycle which are associated with the artist's many sacred sites - such as Wilkinkarra, Maruwa, Tarrku, Njami and Yarrawangu, to name a few. These are locations of significant rockholes, sandhills, sacred mountains and water soakages in the Gibson Desert. (http://www.kateowengallery.com/artists/Wal90/Walala-Tjapaltjarri.htm, accessed 18 May 2015)art, artwork, walala tjapaltjarri, aboriginal, dreaming, creation era, acrylic on linen, pintupi, kiwirrkuru, tingari, wilkinkarra, tarrku, njami, yarrawangu

1) The Advertiser - Red Alert - February 06, 2009 2) The Advertiser - Headline Moments of the Past-July 03, 2009 3) Herald Sun - Black Saturday - February 07, 2009 4) Herald Sun - Fire-storm - February 08, 2009 5) Herald Sun - 84 Dead - February 09, 2009 6) Herald Sun - We'll Help - February 09, 2009 7) The Advertiser - Hellfire Heartache - February 09, 2009 8) The Advertiser - Thumbs Up On Water - February 09, 2009 9) Herald Sun - We Will Rebuild - February 10, 2009 10) Herald Sun - All Lost - February 10, 2009 11) The Advertiser - How We Lost Our Brother - February 10, 2009 12) The Advertiser - Counting the Cost - February 10, 2009 13) Herald Sun - Alive - February 11, 2009 14) Herald Sun - Act of Terror - February 11, 2009 15) Herald Sun - Never Again - February 12, 2009 16) Herald Sun - The Tiniest Victims - February 12, 2009 17) Herald Sun - Heart of a Nation - February 13, 2009 18) Bendigo Weekly - City Unites - February 13, 2009 19) Herald Sun - Love from the Ashes - February 14, 2009 20) The Advertiser - Black Saturday - February 14, 2009 21) The Advertiser - Black Saturday - February 14, 2009 22) Herald Sun - Portraits of Grief - February 14, 2009 23) Herald Sun - Salute Our Heroes - February 15, 2009 24) The Advertiser - One Brick at the Time - February 16, 2009. Folder 111 now in Box 417 AV 03/11/2022newspaper