FABRICATION
This MiG-21 Project employs seven Zimbabweans, a collective of women from the Ndebele Tribe of South Africa, and Zulu women who have worked closely with Ralph Ziman for over a decade, who are beading the aircraft. Their full-time jobs as artisans offer well-paying salaries, healthcare, and education for family members while providing them with the financial means to sustain and support their families.
a collaborative process
Specifications and designs are relayed to the South Africa team where intricately beaded panels are created and sent back to Los Angeles to be fitted to every square inch of the surface, inside and out.
During the pandemic, the team overcame travel restrictions and extreme time differences to collaborate from opposite sides of the world.