A Pintupi, Walala was born in the early 1960’s at Marua, to the east of Kiwirrkura in the Gibson Desert. Walala arrived out of the desert with eight relatives in Kiwirrkura in October 1984, making headlines. Up until this time the group had been following their traditional lifestyle in the country of Lake Mackay. His home base is Kiwirrkura but as he is married to a Warlpiri woman, Brigette Napangardi, he also spends time in Yuendumu, Nyirrpi or Alice Springs. Walala may have started painting in assisting his brother Warlimpirrnga who instructed him in the use of acrylic paints on canvas. He began to paint his own works in 1986-1987. The subject of his paintings is the Tingari Cycle, a series of sacred and secret mythological songs which is associated with his Dreaming sites. Among them eleven sites are located throughout his traditional country near Lake Mackay such as Marua, Minatampi, Tarrku, Njami and Yarrawangu, including Mina Mina, a significant womens’ ceremonial site where his family used to spend time.