To celebrate the 2021 Parrtjima – A Festival in Light kicking off this Friday 9 April, The Ghan has been transformed into a breathtaking piece of moving art.
This collaboration between Tourism NT, NT Major Events Company, Journey Beyond and AGB Events sees three carriages of The Ghan covered in an external wrap of Aboriginal artist Chantelle Mulladad’s work Crossroads.
This epic reveal of The Ghan train wrap shows off the stunning design by Mulladad, from Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa), a remote indigenous community 80km south-east of Alice Springs.
Mulladad’swork is precise and detailed, using pattern, colour, shape and structure to create paintings that depict her sense of Country, culture and self. Coming from Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa), a remote indigenous community 80km south-east of Alice Springs, Crossroads, is about travelling across country on a journey – which is significant and symbolic to the principles of The Ghan.
Peter Egglestone, Journey Beyond Chief Commercial Officer said, “We take great pride in supporting local communities and curating unique experiences, and without hesitation, we were thrilled at the opportunity to support Parrtjima and collaborate for the event. We’re excited to be involved and look forward to sharing this experience with our guests.”
Presented on The Ghan through an immersive in-carriage experience, is the 2019 Ranges Show; ‘The Language of Country – Angkentye Apmere-kenhe’, which celebrates the beauty, uniqueness and survival of the ancient landscape.
The voice of actor Aaron Pedersen, an Arrernte descendent, narrates a script written by Arrernte people, taking the audience on a stirring journey through Country, the kinship system and language.
The 2021 Ranges Show at Parrtjima will be an inspiring and enriching experience called ‘Spirit Kultcha’ – which for the first time is a collaboration with renowned Aboriginal electronic music duo ‘Electric Fields’.
To compliment Mulladad’s work and the immersive experience even further, a light installation will light up inside one of the carriages, providing a little taste of things to come at Parrtjima throughout the coming weeks.
Anthony Bastic CEO, AGB Events said, “This is a new initiative and particularly significant given the Ghan’s importance to Central Australia. There’s also a great synergy with the artwork Crossroads by Chantelle Mulladad which we’ve utilised in this installation and also the Merging Kultcha installation at the Alice Springs Desert Park.
“In developing creative concepts like this it reminds us of the importance in connecting people. On this occasion, by involving the Ghan with Parrtjima, we’re highlighting pathways and moving forward which ties in with the ‘Future Kultcha’ theme for Parrtjima 2021. The Ghan connects people and Parrtjima connects people through light.”
Parrtjima provides an exceptional opportunity to not only learn about Aboriginal stories, culture and art but ensures the knowledge is kept relevant in the 21st century through newly developed mediums.
Running from 9 to 18 April in Alice Springs, Parrtjima – A Festival in Light activates the desert landscape of Central Australia into a meeting place of old and new, where they utilise to showcase technology to celebrate the oldest continuous culture on earth.
Mexican restaurant chain Mad Mex has dropped a new protein, and it’s one of the most popular street foods in Mexico.
Enter, Chicken Al Pastor. It’s traditionally made with pork and grilled on a spinning rotisserie with a pineapple sitting a top, but Mad Mex has put its own spin on it, serving chicken bathed in an Al Pastor marinade with a touch of juicy pineapple.
You can order the protein-packed filling in your favourite burrito, bowl, quesadilla, nachos, or in a taco.
As always, these things are here for a good time, not a long time. Pop into your local Mad Mex restaurant, order delivery or through the Mad Mex app today.
