Nyinyilki 2009

Sally Gabori created this painting, called Nyinyilki, using bold strokes of paint. Nyinyilki, in Kaiadilt language, refers to a specific location on Bentinck Island, Gabori’s homeland. The interplay of colours here can be read as symbols of place and memory. The striking use of red, black, and white is reminiscent of the colours used in indigenous Australian art for millennia, a visual language deeply connected to the land and ancestral stories. These colours are not merely decorative; they evoke the emotional and spiritual ties to the landscape. Consider the recurring motif of the winding line; it echoes the sinuous paths of rivers, or the contour lines of a map. This is not unique to Gabori. Similar motifs appear in ancient Greek labyrinths, medieval maps, and even modern abstract art. The impulse to map one’s surroundings is a fundamental human drive, as is the need to represent our connection to the earth. Gabori's painting reveals a potent engagement with the subconscious, offering a glimpse into how places can be etched into our collective memory. The colours and forms may change, but the underlying human impulse remains, resurfacing in different cultural contexts throughout time.