The MiG-21 Project is South African artist Ralph Ziman’s final installment of the Weapons of Mass Production Trilogy, which reimagines mass-produced weapons of war as works of art. The first installment of the trilogy focused on AK-47s made entirely out of beads and wire. The second installment, The CASSPIR Project, took an armored vehicle used by police to enforce apartheid in South Africa called a CASSPIR and covered it entirely in beadwork. Keeping in line with the theme of mass-produced weapons of global conflict, the final installment’s centerpiece is a fully beaded Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter jet. In many ways, images of the artwork allow it to speak for itself. However, many interesting facts about the exhibit are hidden behind the plane’s bright colors and vibrant patterns. Here are a few facts you might not have known about the project.
The design on the plane is made of beadwork, and each bead was placed by hand.
The MiG-21 Project was not created by artificial intelligence or painted on, but rather beadwork. Digital images of the plane, especially the ones with models in flight suits, can be difficult to register due to the detailed patterns and multitude of bright colors. A team of artisans in South Africa hand-beaded panels using traditional beading techniques. Some of the panels were shaped with wire while others were more flexible and resembled fabric before being placed on the plane in Ziman’s studio in Los Angeles. In total, the process took five years and over 45 million beads to complete.
The colors and patterns of The MiG-21 Project are inspired by traditional African art.
Historically in South Africa and Zimbabwe, bright colors and patterns have been a form of cultural expression in resistance to oppression from colonial powers. The MiG-21 Project honors this history by not only using traditional beadwork techniques to create the art but also taking inspiration from the colors and patterns that have been a source of empowerment for natives to the area. In South African culture, there is also a belief that being able to touch something takes its power away. The beaded panels in the exhibit allow visitors to physically engage with the art, which was important to the artist to convey his message.
Examples of the artisans’ beadwork is available for purchase in the Museum Store. A portion of the proceeds go to support the artisans and their families, including education for their children.
Learn more about the artisans and beadwork – Read Beads of Resistance
The plane used for the project, tail number 8971, was sitting in a junkyard prior to the project.
With over 11,000 total produced, the MiG-21 is not a rare plane and so it is unsurprising that many now sit in junkyards across the world. Ziman selected a MiG-21 for the centerpiece of the final installment of the trilogy since they are the most mass-produced supersonic fighter jet ever. He and his team found the plane in Florida, where it was set to be turned into scrap metal. By being used for The MiG-21 Project, the plane was saved from this fate. In addition to the artwork, the exhibit also shares history about the plane, which was part of the Polish Air Force. The pilot of the plane was even interviewed for the project’s documentary, which plays on a loop in the final room of the exhibit.
The Museum also has a Czech MiG-21 in its collection on permanent display in the Great Gallery.
Art and flight are inherently connected.
Designing an airplane takes more than physics and equations and many planes are works of art by themselves. Consider the elegance of the Lockheed Super Constellation or the clean lines of anything that flies supersonic, like a MiG-21 or Concorde, and it would likely look at home inside an art museum. Engineering takes precision as well as creativity. Some of the greatest planes of all time came from brilliant minds from diverse backgrounds coming together to push the limits of what is possible. The MiG-21 Project approaches flight through the arts and humanities, aiming to engage audiences from all walks of life with the wonder of flight.
The Museum’s vision is “to inspire all through the limitless possibilities of flight, sparked by a singular experience or a lifetime connection.” The MiG-21 Project and other temporary exhibits on special topics help create ‘singular experiences’ for visitors who may not have otherwise enjoyed visiting the Museum or felt a connection with flight.
For those who have not yet had the chance to experience it, The MiG-21 Project goes beyond just a beaded aircraft. Inside the exhibit in the Red Barn, there are six Afrofuturist flight suits to accompany the plane. Video displays explain the history and context of the project, featuring interviews from The MiG-21 Project team, artisans who did the beadwork and even the Polish pilot who flew the MiG-21 used in the project. The exhibit also explores some of the Museum’s military aircraft and how they have been repurposed for civilian uses like firefighting and starring in movies.
Haven’t had the chance to see the exhibit? Visit us before January 26, 2026 to see The MiG-21 Project in person! The exhibit is free for Museum Members and included in the cost of general admission. Don’t miss your chance to see this exhibit before it closes!