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Some gone....some not....but never forgotten

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 firm, 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 Centre'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 through Dreamtime legends. John and Ros 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) made 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 nature's 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 747-438 aircraft VH-OJB (picture shown above), but in 2003 it was transferred onto VH-OEJ a 747 438 ER, the most advanced aviation technology available for commercial travel (both files available here at QVA).

 

Nalanji is the Aboriginal word for place.

Internationally-renowned Australian design studio, Balarinji, has created the Nalanji Dreaming design for Qantas on 747 338 VH-EBU 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.

VH-OJC 747-438

VH-OJC City of Melbourne painted in the splendid "Formula 1" Ferrari  livery in celebration of the Qantas Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix held every year at Albert Park in Melbourne Australia

737 838 VH-VXB

  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.

Images Copyright Qantas Airways Ltd
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Last updated 19th October 2001