Yam Dreaming

On hand to greet the aircraft’s arrival were members of the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye’s family, as well as Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce and the local community.

“It is a privilege to welcome home this special aircraft together with Emily’s family, close to her home Country. We’re thrilled to showcase her striking artwork on our newest Dreamliner,” Joyce said.

“As the aircraft enters our international fleet, we believe this Dreamliner, through colour and image, will tell a story of our unique Australian landscape and, by sharing our Indigenous culture with the world, the important story of reconciliation.”

The aircraft, which is named Emily Kame Kngwarreye, had made its first flight on February 15. After arriving in Australia it was subsequently placed in domestic service, predominantly on Perth-Melbourne and Melbourne- Sydney flights ahead of being deployed on Melbourne-Los Angeles and Melbourne-Perth-London Heathrow international flights.

Qantas’s first three 787-9s are named Great Southern Land (VH‑ZNA), Waltzing Matilda (VH‑ZNB) and Quokka (VH-ZNC). Prior to VH-ZND’s reveal, Qantas has had five aircraft – two Boeing 747-400s, one Boeing 747-300 and two 737s – painted with four different designs of Indigenous art, all designed in partnership with the Balarinji studio.

Balarinji says an indigenous artwork aircraft typically takes two years from concept to launch.

“Over that time, Balarinji works with Qantas Engineering, Boeing and Boeing’s design agency, Teague, to take a 2-D vision into 3-D renders and eventually onto the airport fuselage in the Boeing paint facility in Seattle, USA,” Balarinji explained in a social media post.

“Balarinji deconstructs an original painting and reforms it as a design that works around a fuselage, in a way that responds to the viewer from all angles – from the ground, from an air bridge, in the sky. Scale, colour, distribution of motifs and compatibility with Qantas branding and safety requirements are carefully considered.”

Qantas says a team of more than 60 graphic designers, engineers and painters at Boeing’s Seattle facility worked with Balarinji to adapt and paint the design onto the aircraft, with painting taking more than 10 days to complete.

“It’s been a privilege to work with the brilliant imagery of the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye to create the airline’s fifth iconic Indigenous flying art aircraft. Emily was an extraordinary artist who is revered around the world,” managing director of Balarinji, Ros Moriarty, said.

“Born in 1910, she began painting only in later life, completing more than 3,000 exceptional works up until her death at 86 years of age. Her work embodies her cultural and spiritual connections to her country.”

The original Yam Dreaming, completed in 1991, is on display with the Campbelltown City Council in Sydney’s south-west. Its reproduction on VH-ZND features almost 5,000 dots on the aircraft

VH-ZND now joins Boeing 737‑800 VH-XZJ, Mendoowoorrji, which is currently in Qantas service. The Mendoowoorrji design was inspired by Paddy Bedford’s painting Medicine Pocket and “captures the essence of Mendoowoorrji, Bedford’s mother’s country in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia”.

Previously, the Wunala Dreaming scheme featured on two Boeing 747‑400s (VH-OJB from 1994-2003 and 747-400ER VH-OEJ from 2003‑2011). The artwork was inspired by the Yanyuwa people from the Gulf of Carpentaria and was a celebration of the “reproduction of all living things in the continuing harmony of nature’s seasons”.

Meanwhile, Nalanji Dreaming was on 747-300 VH-EBU from 1995 until the aircraft was retired in 2005, and Yananyi Dreaming was introduced on 737-800 VH-VXB in 2002.

Meanwhile, Balarinji also designed the Wirriyarra textile for Peter Morrissey’s 2003 Qantas uniform.

‘We’re thrilled to showcase her striking artwork on our newest Dreamliner.’ ALAN JOYCE