This paper explores the significance of recognition through associated questions about identity, identifications and what is needed to give an account of oneself from a psychoanalytical and philosophical perspective. These questions are explored through clinical work with a small child and the artistic practice of Waanyi artist Judy Watson arguing that both share the desire to work creatively with residues of fragmentary experiences to enable remembering and recognition. Their work illustrates the suffering inflicted by non-recognition as well as the desire and creative efforts required to establish a precondition for recognition when this desire has been elided and/or silenced. Possible implications for Australian socio-cultural life are introduced.