Kids' APT - A collaboration

Kids’ APT mascot Yami – the northern hairy-nosed wombat Yami was designed by exhibiting Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara as the Kids’ APT mascot and was inspired by the northern hairy-nosed wombat — one of Australia’s rarest marsupials, only found in very small numbers in Epping Forest National Park in Queensland. Yami was created to help guide children through the Gallery spaces, indicating exciting things for them to see and do. The name ‘Yami’ was chosen as its meaning has connections to the Asia Pacific region, especially in Japan where yami is another word for darkness, which also links back to the nocturnal behaviour of the northern hairy-nosed wombat. More than $3000 in donations was received from Wit Pimkanchanapong’s installation Fruits 2007–09, displayed in the Gallery of Modern Art’s forecourt over the opening weekend of APT6 and during the 11-day Kids’ APT Summer Spectacular. The money raised as part of this project was donated to the Wombat Survival Fund, whose mission is to increase the numbers of this special endangered animal and ensure its long-term survival. Northern hairy-nosed wombat / Photograph courtesy of DERM (Department of Environment and Resource Management) 10