THE MAN BEHIND THE ART
WHEN deciding on what design to use for a Cairns Taipans jersey, Injinoo artist Teho Ropeyarn wanted to produce something that resonated with the NBL club.
The Far North team’s nickname is, of course, the Snakes and as a professional sports club, they spend plenty of time travelling around Australia.
Ropeyarn, a Cairns Art Gallery curator, went straight to a print he first worked on way back in 2011 when he was considering his Taipans’ design.
The Taipans will wear Ropeyarn’s Great Dividing Range print incorporated into their uniform this afternoon as they host Adelaide, after wearing the special jerseys in their two road games last weekend.
“The artwork is called the Great Dividing Range, it is a story of two carpet snakes, passed on by my elders in Injinoo,” Ropeyarn said.
“The two carpet snakes made the Great Dividing Range from Victoria all the way up to Queensland, it is a traditional story told to us.
“As the snake travelled up, it made creeks and rivers along the way, while forming the Dividing Range.
“It is fitting to use this work for the Taipans – they are Snakes and they travel around the country, it resonates with them as a team.”
All NBL teams have worn special city-themed jerseys for the NBL Make-A-Wish Round over the Australia Day weekend, with Cairns rolling theirs into this weekend to incorporate a home game.
Make-A-Wish is the world’s largest wish-granting charity, having granted more than 10,000 wishes for Australian children since 1985.
Each wish is designed to complement medical treatment, with a lasting impact on the lives of sick kids, their families and communities.
He is not a big basketball follower but Ropeyarn has a close family connection with star big man Nate Jawai and former player Kerry Williams.
Ropeyarn’s sister went to school with Jawai while Williams’ is a brother in-law to the artist’s wife.
“It is great to do this design with Nathan there on the team, being from Bamaga,” he said. “I am proud that they approached me.”
Ropeyarn spent four years studying full-time in Sydney from 2006-09 completing a degree in Fine Arts at the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales.
Cairns’ opponents today Adelaide are one spot out of the finals race and need to win to keep their season alive.