This painting depicts designs associated with the salt lake site of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) in Western Australia. In mythological times two Tingari Men travelled Wilkinkarra from the soakage water site of Marawa in the west. When the men arrived at Wilkinkarra they lit a large fire in order to flush out the malu (kangaroo). They later entered the earth and continued their travels underground towards the east. This story forms part of the Tingari Cycle. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail was given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of ancestral beings of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari men were usually followed by Tingari women and were accompanied by novices, and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These ancestral stories form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs. (Text from Papunya Tula Artists)