Qantas - Black Canvas

Qantas - Black Canvas

In 2012, artist Gemma O’Brien was without her notebook on a Qantas flight, so she opted to use the motion sickness bag as her medium. As a result, Qantas collaborated with her for their recent social media campaign, #qantasblankcanvas.

The outcome is an interactive initiative that allowed passengers to pass the time on board, get creative, and enter a contest for a double Qantas Club pass , as well as priority check-in and extra baggage allowance.

Throughout May, passengers could submit their entries via Instagram accompanied by the hashtag (#qantasblankcanvas) and the winners were then announced on the 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th. The ‘artists’ were not limited to the sickness bag medium, other options for a canvas included in-flight napkins and boarding passes . According to Jo Boundy, Qantas’ head of digital and entertainment, the campaign was about inspiring passengers to get in touch with their creative side while in the air.

Gemma’s artwork was also displayed in Qantas’ Sydney Domestic lounge and a short video of her and her work is available on YouTube . She also opted to keep the movement going with her own Tumblr page displaying her #qantasblankcavas, titled ‘The Spew Bag Challenge.’

Coincidentally, sick-bag art curator, Steven J Silberber, administers a site featuring air sickness bags that display interesting design and/or adver tisements.