Untitled (Tjuntulpul) 1999

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri made this untitled painting, Tjuntulpul, with acrylic on canvas. The painting has this hypnotic quality. Like a topographical map, or some strange landscape seen from above, these concentric lines create a sense of movement and rhythm. The lines waver between dark and light, leading your eye on a meandering journey. The texture is created by these tiny dots of paint, each one carefully placed, building up a sense of depth. Look closely, and you can see the hand of the artist in each line. These aren’t perfect shapes, the lines wobble a little, like a heartbeat. Each mark feels deliberate, part of a process of meditation and storytelling. I am reminded of Agnes Martin, another artist who built up vast, expansive paintings through simple and repetitive marks. Ultimately, it is up to us to bring our own experiences to the artwork, and find our own meanings within it.