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And they flew from the airfield at Ngurupai
And they flew from the airfield at Ngurupai

And they flew from the airfield at Ngurupai

Artist (1973)
Publisher
Printer
Printer
Date2007
Object number00050594
NameLinocut
MediumVan Son on Arches paper
DimensionsImage: 383 x 555 mm
Sheet: 570 x 770 mm
Copyright© Brian Robinson
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA linocut by Brian Robinson titled 'And they flew from the airfield at Ngurupai'. At the centre of the print is a headdress, one of a number constructed for a story dance about aircraft movements between Ngurupai (Horn Island) military airfield and New Guinea during World War II. Dancers using fighter aircraft replicas interpret raids on Japanese targets. The aircraft depicted in this scene is a Qantas Sunstate Dash 8, one of the main aircraft that services the Torres Strait today. HistoryArtist's statement: "The Civil Constructional Corps and the Department of Main Roads began construction on the operational RAAF airbase on the island of Ngurupai or Horn Island during World War II, commencing in 1940 and finishing in 1941. This airfield was used as a staging base for Allied aircraft moving between Australia and New Guinea. Over the years there have been a number of dance headdresses constructed that focus on historical events that have impacted in some way on the lives of Torres Strait people. Events such as war has stimulated the creation of dance headdresses depicting military aircraft seen soaring overhead by practitioners like James Eseli. Eseli, the maker of these particular headdresses, was born on Badu Island in 1929 and grew up in a traditional society. He drew on his experiences in the Torres Strait during the Second World War when he choreographed the aeroplane dance, which features distinctive headdresses of bombers and fighter planes taking off from Ngurupai on their way to Japanese targets in New Guinea. These headdresses continue to be used by contemporary Badu dance troupes, particularly the bomber dance headdress which is worn during dance performances commemorating Anzac Day. 'And they flew from the airfield at Ngurupai II' depicts another contemporary aircraft, this time a Qantas Sunstate Dash 8, one of the main aircraft that services the Torres Strait today.' - Brian Robinson triebSTUDIO SignificanceHorn Island contains the Torres Strait’s primary airport, regularly servicing daily flights from Cairns and the outer Torres Strait islands. Ngurupai is one of 18 traditional homelands of the Kaurareg Aboriginal people.