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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

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Dr B Marika AO, 2020

Mihail Tsikas

Living Memory Finalist

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.

Courtesy of the artist

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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