Pop Up North Queensland (PUNQ) is North Queensland’s contemporary arts festival, bringing together local, national and international artists to engage with the region’s landscapes, histories and futures. With a strong focus on amplifying Indigenous voices and cultural exchange, PUNQ invites audiences to experience the region through thought-provoking contemporary works.
Created as part of the festival program, these large-scale inflatable Brolga birds were designed to celebrate one of Australia’s most elegant native species while complementing the natural beauty of North Queensland. The goal was to produce visually striking public art that would sit comfortably within the landscape, while still capturing attention at scale.
Achieving realism at height required a custom structural approach. The inflatables were engineered with internal support systems and specially designed baseplates through the legs, allowing the tall, slender proportions of the Brolga to remain visually accurate and stable. High-resolution printed artwork added subtle feather detail and colour variation, enhancing the sculptures’ lifelike presence.
As evening arrived, internal illumination transformed the Brolgas into softly glowing forms, adding another dimension to the festival environment. Positioned within the broader program of installations and performances, the inflatable birds contributed to the immersive atmosphere and demonstrated how large-scale inflatable public art can celebrate culture, landscape and storytelling in contemporary arts festivals.
Photo #2 credit – Sabrina Toby
Photo #4 credit – Nicola Zichhino
Courtesy of Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts
