45 AM 341/02
Ray Tjapaltjari Mens Ceremonial Hair Belt Dreaming 2002
Acrylic on Belgian linen 91 x 153cm $2950
This painting depicts men travelling from Lajamanu to Arripalong to perform a ceremony. The men wear belts
made from human hair as well as adorning themselves with a material called Wamulu. The Wamulu is a pulp
created from a small herbaceous plant that is mixed with various ochres and other substances to get the desired
colours. The Wamulu is represented here by the background dotting and the red lines either side of the concentric
circle depict the hair belts. The concentric circles represent sacred sites were the ceremony is held. The semi
circles either side of the two lines indicate the men. The 'dreaming' is the desert aboriginals belief of world
creation, and this corroboree is a part of their initiation.