Walter Kadiki presents an Auslan poetry video with English subtitles.

I am delighted to share Laments of a Deaf Mute, a new film by Walter Kadiki, specially commissioned by SPILL with the support of the British Council. 

 Walter Kadiki first came onto our radar as a participant in our Deaf Performance Makers Digital Lab led by Australian artist Jodee Mundy last year. Described by Jodee as ‘a rich exchange and sharing of Deaf histories, activism, access and ecologies’, the Lab offered an opportunity for the generation of new Deaf-led artistic projects to foster ongoing international creative exchange.

 Commissioning this film builds directly on the success and momentum of the Lab, whilst offering Walter a unique opportunity to share his fascinating work with a broader online audience.

- Robin Deacon, SPILL Artistic Director and CEO

Auslan is not just a translation of spoken language; it's a complete artistic medium with its own rhythm, intonation, and poetic structure. This specially-commissioned video showcases Auslan poetry in its full visual complexity: the timing, intensity, facial expression, and three‑dimensional shaping of signs that make it a sophisticated art form in its own right.

By centering Auslan as poetry rather than treating it as "accessible" spoken poetry, this work challenges the assumption that poetry must be sound‑based to be legitimate. It's a statement about artistic equality within the arts sector.

Available to watch from 24 March 2026.