From war machine to work of art: The stunning and colorful transformation of this fighter jet

A decommissioned MiG-21 fighter jet, once a symbol of Cold War-era military might, has been transformed into a vibrant tapestry of colour. The artist behind this artwork is South African-born Ralph Ziman, whose latest project, The MiG-21 Project, reimagines the aircraft through the lens of African beadwork design. “It was in pieces and not in great condition, but it was absolutely perfect for us,” he told CNN.

Ziman’s journey into this artistic project began over a decade ago, influenced by his experiences growing up during apartheid in South Africa. His previous works, such as The AK-47 Project and The Casspir Project, involved transforming weapons of war into intricate art pieces adorned with beads, challenging perceptions of violence and celebrating cultural resilience.

For the MiG-21 transformation, Ziman collaborated with artisans from Southern Africa, including skilled bead-workers from Zimbabwe and South Africa’s Ndebele community. Together, they covered the 48-foot-long aircraft with tens of millions of glass beads, creating geometric patterns that reflect traditional African art forms.

“It took a tremendous amount of skill and this tremendous effort”

“There’s no mechanised way of doing this, everything on that plane is 100% handmade,” said Ziman. “I can’t even begin to think about the hours that have gone into it.”

“I’d always loved beadwork. I’d grown up with it; I had an Ndebele nanny who always brought us beaded stuff,” he said. “Even though it took a tremendous amount of skill and this tremendous effort to make anything out of beads, it was looked down on. I always wanted to elevate it to being a fine art.”

Ziman and his team also designed flight suits and helmets, drawing inspiration from military attire and African tribal textiles.

The MiG-21 Project is currently on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, marking its world premiere. After that, the Russian plane will go up for sale, with proceeds funding an education program as well as therapy for children in Ukraine.

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“I love the idea that we take this thing that was built in the Soviet Union … has been donated to us, and we can sell it and put some of that money back into helping some of the civilian population who’ve been so brutalised in the war (with Russia),” he concluded.

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