Page 63 - Tropic Magazine Issue 36

TROPIC • NORTHSITE

Printed stories

VISUAL ART
NorthSite Contemporary Arts is
celebrating CIAF this year with
an epic exhibition by Injinoo
artist Teho Ropeyarn, next to a
collection of new print works.

Words: Annabel Bowles

From the Far North to Sydney and back 1
again, Teho Ropeyarn’s awe-inspiring
seven-metre-long work will be on show Next to the main work is a series of vinyl- 1. Teho Ropeyarn, Athumu Paypa Adthinhuunamu
at NorthSite Contemporary Arts as a cut prints on paper in Ropeyarn’s distinct (my birth certificate) 2022. Exhibited as part of
the 23rd Biennale of Sydney, National Art School
satellite exhibition for CIAF. contemporary style. (Sydney, Aus). Photo: Jacquie Manning. Courtesy of
The piece, titled Athumu Paypa With Ropeyarn’s ties also to the Badu, Onespace Gallery.
Adthinhuunamu (My Birth Certificate) Moa and Murray Islands in the Torres 2. Kyra Mancktelow, Dilly, 2021. Courtesy of the
artist.
was created for the 23rd Biennale of Strait, Woppaburra people (Great Keppel
Sydney earlier this year. It explores Island) and Badtjala people (Fraser
the artist’s Injinoo heritage through a Island), the body of work explores a huge
striking visual of its four clan groups, scope of stories from across Queensland,
framed in an intricate design of patterns truly charting the power of Aboriginal
and totems. connection to Country.
“Injinoo – and all Aboriginal – people are Teho Ropeyarn is also the curator
at one with the land, sea and sky,” he said. of CIAF’s inaugural Big Sculpture
“We traverse the physical, the natural Showcase. Running alongside his
and the spiritual realms. My work for exhibition is another print-focused
the biennale is a visual depiction of this collection, REPATRIATE. It features the
philosophy – explaining how the land work of five First Nations artists from
becomes the human, the human becomes across Queensland – Dylan Mooney,
the animal, the animal becomes the land, Dylan Sarra, Darren Blackman, Kyra
the land becomes the spirit, and the spirit Mancktelow and Dion Beasley – and the
becomes a device linking these elements. results of a printmaking residency they
undertook at InkMasters Cairns earlier
this year. You can hear from select artists
from CIAF satellite exhibitions on 9 July
from 11am, at the NorthSite Gallery.
The land will only listen
to its people
What’s on at NorthSite
Teho Ropeyarn, 2
Injinoo Artist Contemporary Arts
Bana Yirriji Artists from Wujul Wujul
TRAVERSING THREE REALMS: The 29 June - 30 August
“Aboriginal connection to Country is not physical, natural and spiritual
just belonging. It is a spiritually magnetic 24 June - 13 August Big ’Ole - IndigeDesign Labs
system that connects to all other human 4-15 July
and natural elements. REPATRIATE
“You cannot remove the people from the 24 June - 13 August CIAF satellite exhibitions at
land, which finds its way. The land NorthSite Contemporary Arts
will flourish when the system is Keith Wikmunea and Heather
reconnected, and Aboriginal people Koowoortha MORE: northsite.org.au
defend this system." 17 June - 20 August

63 • tropicnow.com.au