Balarinji

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Balarinji is an Australian-based Aboriginal-owned.. strategy and design studio that works with public and private organisation in the areas of public art and curatorial, urban regeneration and infrastructure, branding and cultural design principles.

History

Balarinji was founded in 1983 in Adelaide by its current Chair, Yanyuwa man John Kundereri Moriarty and current Managing Director, Ros Moriarty.

Balarinji-Qantas Flying Art

Balarinji became known for the Balarinji-Qantas Flying Art Series of the 1990s, whereby five aircraft were given liveries based on indigenous designs. The first in the series was "Wunala Dreaming", which was released in 1994. "Wunala Dreaming", meaning "Kangaroo" in the Yanyuwa language spoken by families in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory, was based on the ceremonial tracks of the kangaroo spirit ancestors that are still re-enacted. The design appeared on two Qantas 747-400 (VH-OJB) from 1994 to 2003. .

The second design was "Nalanji Dreaming", which was unveiled in November 1995 and seen till 2005. "Nalanji" is a Yanyuwa word meaning "our place". "Nalanji Dreaming" was a celebration of the balance of nature in Australia and its design reflected the lush colour palette of tropical Australia.

The third aircraft was Yananyi Dreaming which was launched in 2002. Yananyi Dreaming drew on the Pitjantjatjara artist Rene Kulitja who painted her dramatic country surrounding Uluru. The design shows pathways leading to the symbol of Uluru, illustrated as both a physical form, and as an abstract representation of concentric circles.

The fourth aircraft was Mendoowoorrji, delivered to Qantas in 2013. Inspired by the work of the late West Australian Gija painter, Paddy Bedford, Mendoowoorrji is an interpretation of the 2005 painting ‘Medicine Pocket’ which captures the essence of Bedford’s mother’s country in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The most recent was the Emily Kame Kngwarreye 787 Dreamliner which was released in 2018. Balarinji created the fuselage design based on Emily Kame Kngwarreye's 1991 painting "Yam Dreaming".

In 1997 Balarinji moved its operations to Sydney.

Balarinji designed the Wirriyarra print, meaning ‘My Spirit Home’, that was used for Qantas’ uniforms from 2003 to 2013.

In 2011, Balarinji's founders established the not-for-profit organisation Moriarty Foundation. Its two inter-related initiatives are Indi Kindi and John Moriarty Football. In 2021, Moriarty Foundation announced a major partnership with UNICEF Australia and launched Indigenous Football Australia.

Balarinji's founders were inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in 2013 and into the Australian Graphic Design Association Hall of Fame in 2020.

Commissioned by FutureBrand, Balarinji created Aboriginal and Maori motifs which featured in the official logo of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

In 2016, Balarinji created the Indigenous artwork for the Australian team uniforms for the Rio Summer Paralympic Games, the first Australian Olympic team to wear Aboriginal-themed uniforms.

In 2020, Balarinji was awarded an Australian Good Design Award in the Architectural Design Urban Design and Public Spaces category for Aboriginal art installations in Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre. Commissioned by Frasers Property Australia, the installations feature the artwork of Wurundjeri-willam artist Mandy Nicholson and celebrate Wurundjeri culture

The National Museum of Australia in Canberra holds Balarinji's design archive, its original works on paper, and The John Moriarty Collection

References

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