Nyinyilki is an important homeland site with a permanent freshwater lagoon on Bentinck Island. This painting was painted in 2011, the year cyclone Yasi devastated Queensland. Yasi brought to Gabori’s mind the trauma of the extreme weather event which changed her life forever in the late 1940’s, painted from her mind’s eye with drama and passion. These memories of her island home before contact are defined in this work. With dark rain filled skies, raging seas and stunning colour Interpretation of important cultural landmarks, this work is a snap shot of time to be treasured, while mindful of the natural disaster which dislocated her people from their home, now occurring all too frequently around the world.
A semi-circular motif features heavily in Sally’s (Nyinyilki) paintings, most often as bold, black arches that contrast dramatically atop her colorful landscapes. . . Many of these works include large sections over-painted with thin applications of white, redolent of this catastrophic inundation. Although the joyful times Sally spent in the place she loved are important in understanding her work, so are these traumatic memories.
-Bruce McLean, Curator, Indigenous Art, Queensland Art Gallery