Kombali 2008

Sally Gabori made this painting, Kombali, with what looks like a house painting brush, maybe, and a real confidence in colour and composition. The shapes are laid down as blocks, almost like architectural features, yet there’s a freedom in the way the paint is applied. I love how the surface feels so present. The paint is thick in places, thin in others, and you can see the tracks of the brush, which gives it a real physical presence. Look at that little dab of turquoise peeking out from under the magenta, it feels like an accent mark, a little burst of energy. The white stripes are so bold they feel like they are pushing everything else out of the way. Gabori only started painting in her seventies, and her work just explodes with the joy of mark-making; it makes me think of Joan Mitchell, another painter who wasn't afraid of big, bold gestures. But where Mitchell could be angsty, Gabori feels free. It’s a reminder that art doesn't have to be laboured over, sometimes it's best to just let it flow.