Walala Tjapaltjarri
D.O.B
c.1963
Birthsite
Marruwa,Lake Mackay,W.A.
Language
Pintupi
Historical
Walala was a teenager, when his family “walked in” from the Gibson Desert, Western Australia in 1984.The “group of nine” as they were known, were the last of the nomadic aborigines to be assimilated to the community known as Kiwirrkura and were reunited with relatives they had not seen for twenty five years. Walala has three sisters Yalti, Tjakaria and Yukultji and one brother, Thomas. He is also related by skin name to Warlimpirrnga. Walala now lives with his wife in Alice Springs.
Painting
Walala began painting in 1987, along with his brothers Thomas and Warlimpirrnga. His paintings demonstrate the Pintupi designs relating to the Tingari Dreamings. These stories relate to a series of events that took place during the sacred time of creation at a site known as Marruwa. The content of these stories is an entitlement bestowed on the initiated men and remains secret knowledge. His paintings are associated with the area known as Kakarrara and continues further west to Wilurrara.
