Yvonne Levenston
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Yvonne Levenston’s artwork discusses the fragility of the global ecosystems, consumerism and man’s footprint – raising questions about issues of human, animal justice and social values throughout time. Through Yvonne’s practice of printmaking, painting and sculpture, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional techniques to achieve a unique and individual narrative that explores and engages evolution, history, memory and endangered species.
In 2011 Yvonne met Dr Jane Goodall, (Anthropologist and Environmentalist) in Sydney and Dr Willie Smits (a trained forester, microbiologist, conservationist and animal rights activist) in Sulawesi while on an art residency. These experiences have inspired and stimulated her to dig deeper in her art, like an archaeologist digging deep into the landscape – exposing layers of humanity, mega environmental issues, the fragility of the global ecosystems and man’s footprint.
Yvonne's artwork has won many awards, exhibited in over 16 selected exhibitions and 42 group exhibitions. She teaches art and regularly works on commissions. Artwork is held in Private Collections in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, New York, Toronto, China and Bermuda.
"Yvonne's work creates close encounters of magical moments of connection, inspiring people to take action
to protect wildlife and their habitats.
Her work is rich with faces, expressions and looks - each one being unique, with remembrance, with identity and irreplaceable"
Polly Cevallos, Jane Goodall Institute, Australia
KIKI
Thirteen Years in a Cage. A Lifetime to Heal.
Kiki was rescued in September 2013 by the International Animal Rescue (IAR) team after enduring over a decade in heartbreaking captivity. When the rescue team reached Kubu Raya Regency in West Kalimantan, some 150 kilometres from Ketapang, they found Kiki living in a small, barren cage in the backyard of a retired soldier named Mr. Hermansah.
The conditions were grim. Kiki, an adult male orangutan, had been kept by his owner for 13 years—since he was just a tiny infant. Mr. Hermansah claimed to understand the law prohibiting orangutan ownership, but said he had “tried for years” to find someone to surrender Kiki to. Sadly, those years of delay meant Kiki’s life was spent growing up in isolation, in an environment utterly unsuited to his needs.
When IAR’s veterinary team examined him, they estimated his age at between 8 and 10 years old, but Kiki was incredibly small for his age. Years of poor nutrition had taken their toll. His physical development had been stunted, and mentally, he was burdened by a lifetime of confinement.
Despite his past, Kiki’s spirit remains unbroken. He is gentle and observant, slowly learning to adjust to his new life at IAR’s rehabilitation centre. For the first time in over a decade, Kiki is surrounded by the sounds and smells of the forest—no longer behind bars, but on a path to healing.
His journey back to nature will take time. But with the support of expert caregivers and conservationists, Kiki now has the chance to reclaim the life that was stolen from him.
