Yeahnahnesia
Solo show
Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) Perth, WA
Nov 2022 to Apr 2023
An island nation forgotten to time,
culture spanning thousands of years, and the offering of a carefree and balanced way of life...
Official Coat of Arms
Yeahnahnesia “a fictional tropical land” was born as a response to the rather gloomy state of current world events: - An imagined universe populated by bizarre and irreverent deities, creatures and shrines; A culmination of experiences, cultures, morals and values we hold close to our hearts that have come from years of travelling around the globe.
“Temple of Frivolous Wishes” Sketch
The Temple of Frivolous Wishes, together with its many artefacts were beautifully restored and brought to display at the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA), for the first time ever, with permission from the Yeahnah elders. Yok & Sheryo were entrusted by the island’s cultural custodians to spread the Yeahnahnesian philosophy of life to the world.
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Yeahnahnesian Philosophy of Life
Squandering time and going with the flow is a national pastime. The Yeahnah elders believe that the quality of time is a more important measure of time than hours and minutes.
It is generally unwise to disobey
these integrities, if you want your peers to take you seriously.
The “Temple of Frivolous Wishes is a central gathering place where locals meet for prayer and the granting of frivolous wishes, this temple provides shelter from the swelter and maintains a good supply of middys, chiko rolls and bengbengs.
!["Big Neutral Energy". The "Platynaggy Guardians" greet you as you approach the temple's grand flowing front steps. A classic male and female pair, an embodiment of Yin/Yang and balanced wigglyness, they wash away any troubles you have as you enter or leave the temple.]()
![Namaste Froggy]()
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![The caretaker of the "Cabin of Maximum Luxuriation" is also a known shredder according to history books]()
![All frivolous prayers may or may not be answered, and that's okay. Being frivolous, also okay. No judgements here, ever.]()
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1. Made from white limestone endemic to the area, this temple is a prime specimen of classic Yeahnah architecture. It is appreciated for its many sculptural elements, totems and ornate embroidered flags.
2. It was thought to be built at the height of the Yeahnah kingdom in the early 12th century, but the exact date of creation is unsure due to the blurry record keeping owing to the island’s large amount of psychotropic plant life.
3. The temple and its curious objects featured on its sacred grounds hint at the animistic belief systems of Yeahnahnesia.
4. This idea sees all objects as vessels with plants, totems and creatures all having desires and intentions that impact upon the world.
At the back of the temple lies the “Cabin of Maximum Luxuriation” It aligns with the morning sun and the spring equinox, the 4 pillars face north, south, east and west, providing a great forecast for the incoming wind and swell. Surf checks, ding repairs, arts & crafts, yoga and meditation sessions permeate the walls of this establishment.
Totems
Embroidered Flags
Yeahnah-isms are belief systems that Yeahnahnesians hold high in their daily lives. These are usually expressed in flags, which represent a moral or value, sometimes in the form of a proverb.
Artefacts of Significance
Immigration Booth & Passports
Behind the scenes
Sketches
