Dr B Marika AO was an artist and printmaker from Arnhem Land, and a member of the Rirratjingu clan of the Yolngu people. In 2019, Dr Marika was chosen to be the Northern Territory's 2020 Senior Australian of the Year during a ceremony in Alice Springs, where I took her portrait. When I met Dr Marika, I saw the timeless look in her eyes. How do you capture time? While I was adjusting exposures, she tentatively put her hand to her hair to smooth it down. It was at that moment I took the photograph, and I felt I had captured timelessness and living memory.
The subject of this photograph has recently passed away. The Gallery respects Indigenous peoples and communities’ cultural protocols; as such the first name of the subject will not be used and the portrait will not be displayed online or in the Gallery while we consult with the family and community of the subject as to their wishes. We thank you for your understanding.
Gift of the artist 2022
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