Yabini Kickett is currently working with the community of East Fremantle. This residency forms part of one of Spaced’s current programs, Know Thy Neighbour #3. 

Yabini Kickett (Esther McDowell) is a descendant of the Kickett and Hayden families of the Bibulmun/Noongar Nation. Her work deals with textiles and found objects, often with a focus on place and the solastalgia associated with the destruction of Country.

Here, Yabini shares an update, following their first few weeks at Richmond Primary School.

I’ve been visiting Richmond Primary for several weeks now, spending my time in their art classroom watching each cohort learn in various ways. 

Jody (their Art Teacher) has been so welcoming and eager, it’s lovely spending time with someone so connected to the school – Having spent 25+ years working there. This devotion and care is obvious not only in her interactions with the kids, but in the school itself, showcased in various mosaics throughout the grounds.

Each group of children has a very different way of engaging and responding to the themes and mediums presented. I must admit the Year 2 students stole my heart and captivated me with their bird illustrations and paper cutting/collage abilities. Some in that class so focused on drawing tiny finches and wrens, while others use nearly the whole sheet to draw massive sprawling birds of prey.  

Some of the older children in Year 3 were exploring mark making with oil pastels and cardboard. I remember one of my high-school art teachers talking about knowing when we’re “in the zone”, because we’d all drop silent – this class did the same thing. 

 Eventually I gave a little presentation to some of the classes about my work, just so they could get to know me a bit better and maybe familiarise themselves with my practice. 

It’s always funny watching their faces when they realise “Oh hang on, she’s ACTUALLY an artist!” It’s great too when they start to ask questions, one student asking if I ever actually make Aboriginal Art. Opportunities like these are important, because they all now know that “Aboriginal Art” is not limited to dot painting.

We decided recently to run workshops with some of the older classes using soft pastels. They’d used them previously in all sorts of colours, but my preference is in black & white, with water. 

If you’re not familiar, soft pastels are messy on their own, but quite literally turn to ink when water is applied. We knew this was a risk, but that’s what an art class is for. 

One class after another, they all got to muck in and experience a medium they knew, in a very different way. Not all the work produced were masterpieces, but the process is most of the learning. I’ve personally found using wet soft pastels is a great way to get around textural issues – That was some of their first feedback as well.

In the coming weeks I hope to run a few more workshops and introduce them to some multimedia work, furthering that Aboriginal Art, more specifically Noongar Art, is complex and limitless.

First image by Simon Hall, second image provided courtesy of artist.

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