Dibirdibi Country 2012

Editor: Here we have Sally Gabori's "Dibirdibi Country," painted in 2012 using acrylic on canvas. The bright colors and bold brushstrokes make it feel almost like a map of a dream. I am struck by the tension between representation and abstraction in this painting; what do you make of it? Curator: For me, Gabori’s work dances between memory and the present moment. It sings of her homeland, Bentinck Island, but through a deeply personal lens. It feels like the landscape is not so much depicted, as remembered and felt, visceral almost, don’t you think? Editor: Absolutely. It's as if the colors themselves hold memories. I love how she uses this vibrant palette to convey a sense of place, yet I keep wondering, is this how the island truly *looks*, or how she *feels* about it? Curator: Ah, that’s the beautiful tension, isn’t it? The beauty lies in the slippage, the glorious gap between reality and the artist's heart. I reckon she is using those colors to excavate feelings, family, her connection to land, like little shimmering echoes, not just places, you know? It’s about conjuring, not copying. Does that resonate with you? Editor: It really does! The idea of "conjuring" the island through color is lovely. I initially focused on the abstraction, but hearing about memory makes it more personal. Curator: Memory changes things, bends light, distorts shapes! The colours and lines speak to what remains – what she chooses to share. Editor: I appreciate understanding this piece more, not as just an abstract painting, but as a personal story of longing and belonging told through vivid hues. Curator: Precisely! It’s an invitation into Gabori’s world and she makes up her own visual language in which to tell it. Delicious, isn't it?