Tarkul 1999

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri made this painting, Tarkul, using acrylic on canvas. The colours are muted - a deep earthy red against a creamy white - and the painting seems to vibrate with the energy of its many marks. Looking closely, the painting is made up of lots of different circles, triangles and lines. Each circle radiates with straight lines, like a sun bursting with energy. But the shapes aren't exact, they wobble and shift, giving a sense of movement and change. It’s like the artist is mapping out a journey, tracing routes across the land, connecting different sites and stories. This interest in mapping and memory is also visible in the work of Agnes Martin, who explored similar themes of space and time through her grid paintings. But where Martin's work feels calm and meditative, Tjapaltjarri's painting is alive with energy and movement. It's a reminder that art is always in conversation, building on what came before while pushing in new directions.