Dibirdibi Country 2011

Here we see Sally Gabori's "Dibirdibi Country" and it’s like she’s made it right in front of us, the colours and brushstrokes feel so immediate. I love how Gabori uses these broad, confident strokes of coral and white, almost like she's building the land right on the canvas. The paint isn’t too thick, but you can really feel each gesture, each swipe of the brush. It’s kind of like looking at a landscape through feeling rather than just sight. Take a look at the bottom of the piece, where the coral spreads out like a soft wave. It's these areas that make me think about the painting as a kind of performance, a record of the artist's movements and her connection to her country. It reminds me a little bit of Joan Mitchell's landscapes, they both share a love of bold colour and energetic mark-making. Art is an ongoing conversation, isn't it? It’s never really about saying one thing for sure.