7aki baynetna / haki between us/ talk between us

In contemporary Australia there are many benefits and privileges. But at what cost does living in a first world community have on traditional languages and culture? What are the lived impacts on migrants, their children and future generations? 7aki baynetna is a work in progress that begins to question the impact on traditional languages and culture.

7aki baynetna, is a play on words. 7aki pronounced as ha-ki translates to talk; baynetna translates to between us in Arabic. “Talk between us”, a term used to affirm the privacy of a conversation with a person or in a group. I use the term Arab-lish to describe this hybrid language. I have chosen this form of writing and language to convey how my family’s traditional language has changed over time. 7aki baynetna is inspired by those ‘private’ conversations with my mother. 

This work was part of the Artist Residency in Parenthood, curated by Lenine Bourke and exhibited at 107 Projects.