Qantas-Balarinji Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa Art Aircraft

In the post Voice Referendum social environment, it is more vital than ever that leading Australian corporations partner with designers to shine a light on the importance of our founding narrative to our nation. The long-standing Balarinji-Qantas partnership rose to this challenge with the launch of Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa, an A220 Art Aircraft, the sixth in our Flying Art Series since 1994. Qantas commissioned Balarinji to create this unique new fuselage design to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture in a joyful, respectful and authentic way.

Drawing from the Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa artwork by Pitjantjatjara artist Maringka Baker, telling the Two Sisters Creation story, the fuselage design highlights the parallels between sustainability and Indigenous Australia as an underpinning narrative. Through art, colour and story, the contemporary design expresses Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander philosophies about sustainability, including living close to and caring for Country, ideas which are deeply embedded within Indigenous culture and practice and can inform Australia and the world. The iconic statement highlights Indigenous meaning for sustainability by using a prominent green colour palette, including changing the airline’s iconic tail from red to green.

The project powerfully celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the importance of caring for Country on the global stage. The design was celebrated by the artist, her family and her community at a special event in culturally-significant Uluru in the heart of Australia, amplifying the aircraft’s impact. Response to Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa’s was overwhelmingly positive, receiving worldwide headlines, recognition and positive feedback. For commercial, environmental and societal reasons, this project is an outstanding design solution where Indigenous culture influences how we think about ourselves as Australians and how we can all celebrate Australia’s rich 65,000-year heritage.

The artist, Maringka Baker, and the meaning of her work are central to the social impacts of this project. Balarinji’s approach to co-design with Marinka as storyteller and cultural custodian on this project is exemplary. Maringka Baker is a senior Pitjantjatjara artist from the remote community of Kanpi, South Australia. Maringka is recognised as one of Australia’s most accomplished artists. Maringka’s artwork Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa tells the TWo Sisters Creation story. In the story two sisters are travelling back to their home. The younger sister has been lost for a long time in the south, and her big sister leads her north across vast distances. Comforting her younger sister, the older sister teaches her about the Country they travel through. They stop on the way to perform Inma (sacred singing and dancing). This artwork was chosen for its deep connection to Country, its representation of the importance of family, resilience and of living close to, and looking after Country. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the world’s first ecologists. They have successfully sustained life on this ancient, fragile continent for 65,000+ years. Caring for Country principles continue to be deeply embedded within Indigenous culture and practice.