Teho Ropeyarn included in 23rd Biennale of Sydney

Onespace Gallery is proud to announce that represented Cairns-based artist Teho Ropeyarn has been invited to participate in the 23^rdBiennale of Sydney, titled rīvus.

Open to the public from 12 March – 13 June 2022, the exhibition will bring together existing and commissioned projects worldwide around the theme of water, rivers, wetlands and other salt and freshwater ecosystems.

Artistic Director, José Roca and the Curatorium state:

“Indigenous knowledge has long understood non-human entities as living ancestral beings with a right to life that must be protected. But only recently have some plants, mountains and bodies of water been granted legal personhood. If we can recognise that a river has a voice, what might they say?

rīvus will enable aqueous beings – rivers, wetlands and other salt and freshwater ecosystems – to share a dialogue with artists, architects, designers, scientists, and communities. Considering the water ecology’s perspective raises unlikely questions: Can a river sue over psychoactive sewage? Will oysters grow teeth in aquatic revenge? What do the eels think? Are waves the ocean’s desire?”

Teho Ropeyarn’s inclusion in the 23^rdBiennale represents an obvious trajectory for Ropeyarn’s artistic practice. His significant achievements to date include:

Primavera in 2012 at Museum of Contemporary Arts, Sydney,
GOMA Q: Queensland Contemporary Art in 2015 at Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, as well as the
8th International Printmaking Biennial in 2016 presented in Douro, Portugal.

Teho Ropeyarn’s involvement echoes the Biennale’s acknowledgment of the vital need to protect First Nations knowledge.

More about the Biennale of Sydney

Full Announcement

Ropeyarn states:

“My artwork reflects the continuation of cultural knowledge passed down from generations long ago, onto our Elders, who are now passing on all aspects of culture; language, tribal stories, significant landmarks and rituals, dancing and beliefs to the next generation…
We are in a day and age where culture and grass root knowledge is slowly deteriorating due to Elders passing, our ever-changing lifestyle and social disadvantages in our communities. Practicing art, is one way of maintaining and developing culture, and has always been a part of Aboriginal culture. Through this tradition, it will preserve my culture in one way for years to come.”

The Biennale of Sydney has created meaningful dialogues surrounding Australia and our place in the world since its inception in 1973 and we are excited to see what Teho Ropeyarn will bring to the conversation.

Image: Teho Ropeyarn
Uyinthayn, 2017
Ink and mixed media vinyl-cut print with acrylic wash on
Hahnemühle paper, Edition of 10, 180 x 124 cm
Image: Michael Marzik. Courtesy of the artist and Onespace Gallery