Qantas Flying Art

[TAA Matt]

 

Sourced - qantas.com

 

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Wunala Dreaming

 

 

The story of 'Wunala' started thousands of years ago with ancient Dreamtime journeys of Australia's Aboriginal people and continues with the most advanced technology available for your own travels.

 

To celebrate our spectacular country, so rich with its diverse cultural heritage and natural beauty, in 1994 Qantas commissioned a painting from an internationally renowned design form, Balarinji Designs, in Adelaide, South Australia.

 

A team of Aboriginal and non-aboriginal artists developed distinctive imagery using a contemporary graphic style featuring motifs from Northern and Central Australia to create one of the world's largest pieces of modern art - a unique Boeing 747-400.

 

The natural colours of the country have inspired the artists' palette, from, the bright reds of Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunset to the blue-lavenders that define the Flinders Ranges lining the Center's desert horizon. And if you've ventured into the wetlands of Kakadu, you'll recognise the lush apple-green.

 

The Dreamtime Legend -

 

The Aboriginal people of Australia boast the world's oldest continuous culture dating back some 40,000 years. It is passed on though dreamtime legends. John and Ross Moriarty, principals of Balarinji Design, explain the 'Wunala Dreaming' of the Yanyuwa people from the Gulf of Carpenteria:

 

"In dreamtime journeys, spirit ancestors in the form of kangaroos (Wunala) make tracks from camps to waterholes, leading the people to water and food. Today, as they have for centuries, Aboriginal people re-enact such journeys through song and dance 'corroborees'. These ensure the procreation of all living things in the continuing harmony of natures seasons."

 

Modern Mythology -

 

As is the case with much modern art, the painting of this plane is a bold blending of old and new. Wunala Dreaming was digitalised on computer and magnified 100 times to generate 2 kilometres of blotting paper. This allowed the 67 patterns - including 1324 irregular dots - to be traced onto this Boeing 747-400 aircraft, the most advanced aviation technology available for commercial travel.

 

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Nalanji Dreaming

 

 

Nalanji is the aboriginal word for place.

 

Internationally-renowned Australian Design studio. Balarinji, has created the 'Nalanji Dreaming' design for Qantas to celebrate the balance and harmony of nature in 'our place', Australia. In late 1995, this aircraft became the second designed and painted in an Aboriginal-inspired contemporary style for Qantas.

 

'Nalanji Dreaming' expresses its uniquely Australian cultural themes in a lush, tropical colour palette. Yellow sun rays dot intense blue sky. Flowers and vines express the rainforest and symbolize, too, tracks between ceremonial places of spirit ancestors when they created the Australian landscape in the Dreamtime. Emerald greens are the colours of the forest. Vivid blues are the tropical reef waters that lap our golden shores along the entire circumference of the Australian continent. A flash of watermelon catches the eye like a native parot flying through the canopy or a flower in sudden bloom.

 

As with the Wunula Dreaming aircraft, the design was first digitalised on computer and magnified 100 times to generate 2 kilometres of blotting paper. This allowed each pattern to be traced onto its Boeing 747-300 aircraft.

 

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Yananyi Dreaming

 

 

Qantas celebrates one of the world's oldest cultures and the latest in aviation technology with 'Yananyi Dreaming', a painted Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

 

The fuselage layout was designed by Balarinji using individual motifs painted by Rene Kulitja whose vibrant colours are inspired by the dramatic landscape surrounding Uluru.

 

Uluru has dominated the Australian Western Desert landscape for millions of years. The Anangu people have lived in the region for more than 40,000 years, maintaining their special sites and unique culture. Through song, dance and art, they tell their Tjukurpa - Anangu stories of land and journeys that hold their knowledge and their Law. Dances from the Tjukurpa teaching Anangu way of life and history of their land are passed on from generation to generation, keeping culture strong.

 

'Yananyi' means going or travelling. In 'Yananyi Dreaming' radiating pathways lead to the symbol of Uluru, depicted both as a physical form surrounded by Kurkara (desert oak trees), and as an abstract representation of concentric circles. Blue hills (Tali) rise from the desert landscape, and mala (Rufous Hair - Wallaby) tracks are imprinted on the sand. Lungkata (Blue tongued Lizard) basks in the hot sun in this fragile and ancient place. 'Yananyi Dreaming' is the strong Uluru story.

 

Rene Kulitja describes her artistic works for 'Yananyi Dreaming.' "This is my traditional place. I am a Pitjantjatjara woman. My pictures tell about the landscape, the animals and the plants of Uluru. We go hunting in the desert for tjala (honey ant) and lungkata (Blue-tongued Lizard). I am a traditional owner at Uluru. My husband, my kids and I - we love this country."

 

'Yananyi Dreaming' was welcomed to Australia with a special Inma ceremony performed by singers and dancers from Rene's Mutitjulu community in Uluru.

 

'Yananyi Dreaming' is the third Qantas aircraft to be painted with an Aboriginal design and is to be used in the Australian domestic market.

 

Painting Specifications -

 

-Painted at Boeing's Seattle headquarters.

 

-484.5 litres of paint was used.

 

-2,000 man hours over six days to complete.

 

-200 large plastic stencils, 7mm thick measuring 1.27m x 3m defined the overall design.

 

-63 pieces of nylon stencil ranging in size from 0.5m x 1.5m to 1.25m x 5.6m created the more intricate designs.

 

 

[Uncle Chop Chop]

Thanks for that Info. I always wanted to know what they ment and why they are there. Can you see any more Aircraft being painted in a special livery?

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

Many years ago a Qantas plane (can't remember the type) was to be painted in Peter Allen livery with the harbour bridge. I have seen a model done in this livery.

 

 

[TAA Matt]

This is only a graphics designer that has come up with this one -- but i like it.

 

 

 

[Uncle Chop Chop]

That does look good. I found a website that has pictures digitally changed and I found a few with Qantas. They look good. The link can be found at the bottom of this post. Click on the link and search for Qantas under the Airlines Heading.

 

http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Good find there Uncle Chop,

 

My favourite Qantas ones there are;

 

 

 

 

^^ This one is a little too red, but would be good for the "Sharing the Spirit" livery.

 

 

[Todd M]

I love the Aboriginal painted craft, they brings some colour to the skies (One thing though they didn't mention is beloved Nalanji is still on the ground at Avalon), But it would be nice for Qantas to depict an aircraft on the European history of Australia. Like a captain cook one, that would be nice. But I don't think that will happen any time soon!