Welcoming Sculpture – “Kaya | Mate”

The  Welcoming Statement Sculpture by Matt McVeigh and Rohin Kickett seeks to

embody a gesture of greeting and cultural exchange at the

entry point to the New Baldivis parklands. The work

incorporates the words “Kaya” (a Nyoongar term meaning

“hello” or “welcome”) and “Mate” (a term of friendship and

familiarity in Australian vernacular) into a singular threedimensional

sculptural form. It is an anamorphic sculpture- a three-dimensional artwork that

appears distorted or abstract from most angles but resolves

into a coherent image or form when viewed from a specific

vantage point. This conceptual pairing symbolically bridges

Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal expressions of welcome,

reinforcing the project’s commitment to cross-cultural

understanding and inclusivity.

Situated adjacent to Lake Walyungup, a site of significant

ecological and cultural importance, the sculpture will draw

inspiration from the lake’s diverse birdlife and its dynamic

natural systems. The design acknowledges the lake as both a

living ecosystem and a site embedded with deep Nyoongar

significance, reflecting the interconnectedness between

people, place, and environment.

The primary statement sculpture, standing approximately 3

metres tall, will serve as a focal point—both a visual

landmark and a symbolic threshold into the park.

Complementing this central form, seven smaller bird

sculptures (each approximately 1.4 metre in height) will be

distributed throughout the landscape. These smaller works

will represent species associated with Lake Walyungup and

will be fabricated in an interactive manner to engage

younger audiences, inviting tactile and imaginative

participation.

‍