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Because Bentinck Island and its small surrounding islands were the whole world for the Kaiadilt people, they did not need a word for Bentinck Island itself, since in actual conversation what was always more important were the specific places, whose names rub shoulders every few hundred metres. So, when anthropologist Norman Tindale sought a translation for the European name Bentinck Island, to place on his epic 1962 map, he was given the name Dulka warngiid, which he translated as ‘land of all’, and it stuck. But it can equally well be translated as ‘the one place’, or ‘the whole world.’ Bruce Johnson McLean, "Dulka Warngiid: The Whole world" in Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori. Publication Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2022.
Birmuyingathi Maali Netta Loogatha, Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori, Warthadangathi Bijarrba Ethel Thomas, Thunduyingathi Bijarrb May Moodoonuthi, Kuruwarriyingathi Bijarrb Paula Paul, Wirrngajingathi Bijarrb Kurdalalngk Dawn Naranatjil, Rayarriwarrtharrbayingathi Mingungurra Amy Loogatha, Dulka Warngiid, 2007. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 199 × 605 cm. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. Purchased with funds donated by Catherine Allen, Carolyn Berger and Delma Valmorbida, 2007 / Adagp, Paris, 2022.
Sally Gabori, Amy Loogatha, Netta Loogatha, May Moodoonuthi, Dawn Naranatjil, Paula Paul and Ethel Thomas, Sweers Island, 2008. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 200 × 600 cm. The Arthur and Suzie Roe Collection, Melbourne, Australia. © The Estate of Sally Gabori / Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo © Simon Strong.
Sally Gabori, Thundi, 2010. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 198 × 151 cm. Private collection, Bowral, Australia. © The Estate of Sally Gabori / Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo © Mark Pokorny
Sally Gabori, Amanda Gabori and Elsie Gabori, Pat and Sally’s Country, 2011. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 198 × 305 cm. Patricia Roberts, Melbourne, Australia. © Estate Sally Gabori / Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo © Simon Strong.
Sally Gabori, Thundi, 2010. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 198 × 151 cm. Private collection, Bowral, Australia. © The Estate of Sally Gabori / Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo © Mark Pokorny
Sally Gabori painting Dibirdibi Country. Art & Craft Center, Mornington Island, 2009 Video 48’08’’ © The Estate of Sally Gabori. Video © Inge Cooper
Makarrki is a very special place and has a big river that runs through it. This is where dugong and turtles come on a high tide making it easy for the men to catch them. Sally Gabori
From left to right: Warthadangathi Bijarrba Ethel Thomas, Kuruwarriyingathi Bijarrb Paula Paul, Rayarriwarrtharrbayingathi Mingungurra Amy Loogatha, Wirrngajingathi Bijarrb Kurdalalngk Dawn Naranatjil, Thunduyingathi Bijarrb May Moodoonuthi, Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori and Birmuyingathi Maali Netta Loogatha in front of Dulka Warngiid, Art & Craft Centre, Mornington Island, 2008. Photo © Inge Cooper
Warthadangathi Bijarrba Ethel Thomas, Kuruwarriyingathi Bijarrb Paula Paul, Naranatjil Rayarriwarrtharrbayingathi Mingungurra Amy Loogatha and Birmuyingathi Maali Netta Loogatha. Art & Craft Centre, Mornington Island, 2008. Photo © Inge Cooper
The Kaiadilt women’s holistic and polysemic vision of Bentinck Island is anchored in their deep attachment to seven distinct story places on their tiny island. Judith Ryan, "Unprecedented: The Art of Sally Gabori", in Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori. Publication Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2022.
Painting Dulka Warngiid. Art and Craft Centre, Mornington Island, 2008. Photo © Inge Cooper
Sally Gabori, Dibirdibi Country, 2010. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 196 × 456 cm. Collection of Garance Primat, Geneva, Switzerland. © The Estate of Sally Gabori / Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo © Marian Gérard, Studio Gérard, Geneva, Switzerland
Kaiadilt women artists working at the Art and Craft Centre. Mornington Island, 2006. Photo © Woolloongabba Art Gallery
Sally Gabori, Dibirdibi Country, 2008. Synthetic polymer on linen, 198 × 304 cm. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. Purchased, NGV Supporters of Indigenous Art, 2010. © The Estate of Sally Gabori / Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo © National Gallery of Victoria
Sally Gabori, Dibirdibi Country, 2010. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 199 × 607 cm. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Purchased with funds provided by the Aboriginal Collection Benefactors’ Group, 2010. © The Estate of Sally Gabori / Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo © AGNSW
Birmuyingathi Maali Netta Loogatha, Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori ,Warthadangathi Bijarrba Ethel Thomas, Thunduyingathi Bijarrb May Moodoonuthi, Kuruwarriyingathi Bijarrb Paula Paul, Wirrngajingathi Bijarrb Kurdalalngk Dawn Naranatjil, Rayarriwarrtharrbayingathi Mingungurra Amy Loogatha, Makarrki – King Alfred’s Country, 2008. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 200 × 600 cm. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia. Purchased 2009 with funds from Professor John Hay AC and Mrs Barbara Hay through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation. © The Estate of Sally Gabori / Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo © Merinda Campbell, QAGOMA.
Sally Gabori painting Dibirdibi Country. Art & Craft Center, Mornington Island, 2010. Photo © Inge Cooper
The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain wishes to advise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander comunities that this site contains images and names of deceased Aboriginal people.
All images on this site are the property of the Estate of Sally Gabori and the Kaiadilt community.
Any use without their permission is prohibited.