Every twelve years, the British & Irish Lions, the rugby union team made up of the best players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland come to Australia for a highly anticipated series of matches against our Wallabies. Is there a First Nations connection? There are Aboriginal players in the Wallabys – such as Kurtley Beale and Dylan Pietsch (whose also designed a jumper) – yes. But promotional material? Not a smidgeon.
In England and Ireland, though, it’s all over the TV coverage, thanks to a commission from broadcaster Sky (not the same as our Sky) for the Gadigal artist Konstantina to design “a unique visual identity, deeply rooted (they say) in the traditions of Aboriginal Australian art”.
Her visual language blends bright colours, fine brushstrokes, and dotted patterns, (loosely) inspired by the Dreamtime (or everywhen as we’re going to have to learn to call it). For the Lions Series, she has imagined the symbolic journey of a mighty lion, guided by a rather small pelican, respectfully following a Gadigal songline to Sydney. Konstantina explains that this work sits with her series called Ken Done Aboriginal Unk, “a tribute to the iconic 1980s artist Ken Done, whose colourful depictions of Sydney, the land of my Gadigal ancestors, deeply influenced me”.
I wonder whether Ken Done considers himself “a 1980s artist”???
Konstantina – last seen in Indianapolis with the Grande Experiences LUME show of Aboriginal art – insists, “This series of works is FUN! And are a total embellishment of my more serious contemporary Aboriginal arts practice. They are also a nod to the 80’s legend Ken Done, who I adore. His colour, and vast documentation of Sydney (my Country) are such a gift to anyone who calls this place home. These works are colourful, playful and humorous. And ‘Unk’ is a common abbreviation for Uncle…who can be anyone really who’s a bloke and deadly! Each piece is conceived as a sensitive map, meant to be dreamt”.
She continues, “It is wonderful to see a British broadcaster embrace the storytelling and arts practise of Indigenous Australia and be so proud to showcase it across their channels for the Lions tour. Working collaboratively with the team from concept to conclusion meant that we were able to get the story right and show off First Nations art to the world in a unique and compelling way”.
The visual sequence was brought to life by Sky Creative. Harry Ward, its Creative Director agreed, “Working with a First Nations artist has helped us create an authentic and respectful visual identity. The lion embodies the unity of the four nations – a powerful symbol of shared pride and strength. For this Australian tour, we chose to portray him as a respectful traveller. By combining traditional Indigenous art techniques with cutting-edge visual effects, we’ve crafted a character that is both culturally authentic and visually striking, which is perfectly suited to the series”.
The project also involved British composer Dave Connolly, who specialises in writing music for some of the worlds best known brands, and cultural adviser Matthew Doyle, the Muruwari man who performs both didgeridoo and percussion. “Every detail was carefully considered to remain faithful to the forms, stories, and cultural principles of Aboriginal tradition, while respecting its symbolism, values, and sensitivity. The Sky Lions Series 2025 celebrates rugby, Aboriginal art, and the unity of nations”.
Do enjoy these stirling values as you watch the 54 second trailer – and see if you can spot those Aboriginal traditions, or even the guiding Gadigal pelican, who appears more like a lamb to the slaughter of the heroic British Lion!
