"Male Initiation Ceremony 2002" is a very beautiful and inspiring painting in a dramatic juxtaposition of colour. An outstanding work of art, and arguably one of the greatest masterwork of the artist. In "Male Initiation Ceremony 2002" Don Tjungurrayi pays particular attention to the details, with the subtle shades of the colour and intricate precision he is achieving a powerful and a poignant painting with the sheer physical presence of much contemporary work, and the multi-dimensional materialization that floats in the air and moves with the viewer’s eyes.
While many ceremonies are public, Male Initiation Ceremony are secret and strangers, young women, non initiated boys and girls would be limited in attending the sacred ceremonies. They main categories of ceremonies are; education of their sacred laws and behavioral codes and to ensure continuation of totemic species to live in harmony with the land. Aboriginal men perform the ceremonies at different times of the year. Each ceremony has to be organized, supervised and managed and the performance of each ceremony dependents the person ownership, their knowledge as well as their status. A concentric circle represents a meeting place. Ceremonies involve songs, dances and body adornment.
Male Initiation Ceremony (in general sense) is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society and also a formal admission to adulthood in a community. The initiation is normally regarded as a stage where a boy is to be taught manhood. Initiation is an event which may help young men to prepare themselves to be good husbands.
Australian Aboriginal tribes usually had long periods of time to help prepare adolescent boys, teaching them the Law before they were ready to attend large elaborate ceremonies at the time of initiation when they were finally recognized as full-fledged men in their society. In many tribes, initiation involves circumcision of males and scarification as a part of the male rituals, while many Central Australian tribes also practiced sub-incision. Tribes initiations are considered necessary for the individual to be regarded as a full member of the tribe. Otherwise, the individual may not be allowed to participate in ceremonies or even in social ritual such as marriage. A man will not be allowed to marry or have any special relationship with a woman who didn't go to an initiation, because she is not considered as a woman.