Images: Sam Roberts
One of Adelaide’s iconic Popeye boats has received a striking makeover, with a vibrant new artwork by Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna artist Kath Moore now wrapping the much-loved River Torrens attraction.
Titled Yarta (Country), the design traces a journey through the native landscape of Tarntanya (Adelaide), following Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens) from the Adelaide Hills through Kaurna Country to the coast.
The artwork celebrates the enduring connections between Country, water, culture and family, drawing on Kath’s relationship with Country and the stories of her Nan, Doris Kropinyeri, who grew up at Raukkan on the Coorong.
“It is an absolute honour to see my artwork come to life on one of Adelaide’s most iconic attractions,” Kath said.
“My family has a special connection to Popeye, with my aunty sharing fond memories of cruising along Karrawirra Pari with my nan as a young girl, nearly 80 years ago.
“Now I get to create these memories with my own children while also sharing the beauty and stories of my culture.”
At the heart of the design is Karrawirra Pari, meaning “red gum forest river”, which flows from the Mount Lofty Ranges in Peramangk Country, through Kaurna Country and towards the coast.
Native plants and animals found along the river are woven throughout the artwork, including red river gums, flax lilies, pigface, grevillea, banksia, golden wattle and Sturt Desert Peas.
Fish, pelicans, snakes, black swans and ibis also feature, while a southern right whale represents the point where the river’s journey meets the ocean.
A large red kangaroo appears across the back of the boat, representing Tarntanya, the Kaurna word for “big red kangaroo” and the name for Adelaide.
The work is the third created through the Ramsay Art Boat project, which brings contemporary South Australian artists together with Popeye to create public art experiences on the river.
James & Diana Ramsay Foundation Executive Director Kerry de Lorme said the project invited people to experience the River Torrens and its surroundings from a different perspective.
“Three editions in, we’re incredibly proud of what the project has become,” Kerry said.
“The Ramsay Art Boat is a wonderful example of what can happen when artists, arts organisations, South Australian businesses and philanthropy come together around a shared idea.”
The new Ramsay Art Boat was commissioned by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation and presented in partnership with Popeye, Guildhouse, the K&S Langley Fund and Visualcom.
