Dibirdibi Country 2006

Sally Gabori, an Indigenous Australian artist, made "Dibirdibi Country" using bright acrylics, diving right in with bold strokes. The paint is laid on thick, you can almost feel it, building up a landscape of color. Look at how the red wraps around that intense blue and orange center, like a protective embrace. It’s raw, it’s direct, and you get the sense that Gabori wasn't fussing too much, she was just feeling her way through. You see the same kind of playful freedom in the work of someone like Joan Miró, who was also interested in these kinds of organic shapes and strong colours. It’s not about perfection, it's about the energy of the application, and about giving a sense of place. And when it comes to art, isn't that what really matters?