Dibirdibi Country, 2009

synthetic polymer paint on linen

198 x 101 cm

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Provenance: Mornington Island Arts & Crafts, Mornington Island, Qld, Cat No. 4232-L-SG-0409 Corrigan Collection, NSW Aranda Art, Vic
Artwork story: Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori began painting in 2005 at the age of 81, while living in aged care on Mornington Island. Having never previously used a paintbrush, she quickly developed a bold, expressive style that would captivate the Australian and international art world. Within months of beginning to paint, she held her first sell-out exhibition, and over the following decade her work featured in major national and international shows. Born on Bentinck Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Gabori was a Kaiadilt woman and one of the last fluent speakers of her language. Her early life was lived traditionally until 1948, when environmental pressures and missionary intervention led to the forced relocation of her community to Mornington Island. Despite this dislocation, Gabori maintained her cultural knowledge and deep spiritual connection to Country. Her paintings are vibrant, abstract landscapes drawn from memory — the seas, reefs, lagoons and tidal flats of her homeland. With loaded brush and spontaneous gesture, she merged colour and emotion into luminous fields evoking the rhythms of wind, water and light. Each work carries layers of story: the fish traps, stone walls and feeding grounds that sustained her people. In describing this work, Gabori said "This is the saltpan that runs through my husband's country on Bentinck Island."

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Sally Gabori

c.1924 – 2015

Region: Cape York, Gulf & Far North Queensland
Community: Bentinck Island
Language group: Kayardild (Kaiadilt, Gayardilt)

Dibirdibi Country, 2009

synthetic polymer paint on linen

198 x 101 cm

Enquire for price

Provenance: Mornington Island Arts & Crafts, Mornington Island, Qld, Cat No. 4232-L-SG-0409 Corrigan Collection, NSW Aranda Art, Vic
Artwork story: Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori began painting in 2005 at the age of 81, while living in aged care on Mornington Island. Having never previously used a paintbrush, she quickly developed a bold, expressive style that would captivate the Australian and international art world. Within months of beginning to paint, she held her first sell-out exhibition, and over the following decade her work featured in major national and international shows. Born on Bentinck Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Gabori was a Kaiadilt woman and one of the last fluent speakers of her language. Her early life was lived traditionally until 1948, when environmental pressures and missionary intervention led to the forced relocation of her community to Mornington Island. Despite this dislocation, Gabori maintained her cultural knowledge and deep spiritual connection to Country. Her paintings are vibrant, abstract landscapes drawn from memory — the seas, reefs, lagoons and tidal flats of her homeland. With loaded brush and spontaneous gesture, she merged colour and emotion into luminous fields evoking the rhythms of wind, water and light. Each work carries layers of story: the fish traps, stone walls and feeding grounds that sustained her people. In describing this work, Gabori said "This is the saltpan that runs through my husband's country on Bentinck Island."