For Vivid Sydney 2025, VANDAL illuminated the sails of the Sydney Opera House with Kiss of Light, a luminous tribute to the late queer artist and activist David McDiarmid.

Commissioned by Destination NSW in collaboration with the Sydney Opera House, the seven-minute projection brought McDiarmid’s iconic works – including Bedsheet Paintings, Disco Kwilts, Rainbow Aphorisms, and the titular Kiss of Light series – into motion, forming a vivid celebration of queer identity, protest, and joy.

VANDAL’s creative team worked closely with McDiarmid’s estate to thoughtfully translate his bold, handmade artworks into dynamic animation. Using a blend of 2D and 3D animation, Houdini simulations, and precise projection mapping, the work preserved the tactile sensibility of the originals while adapting them to the Opera House’s distinctive architectural canvas. The result was a kaleidoscopic projection across the sails, pulsing with the artist’s signature themes of lust, rage, and hope.

Creative Development & Animation: VANDAL

Creative Director: Chris Scott

Executive Producer: Melody Ha

Lead Producer: Alice Robinson

Art Director : Anna Fraser

Junior Creative: Phillip Muzzall

Lead Artist : Tim Clapham

3D Motion Artist : Sam Price

2D Motion Artist : Jeremy Mansford

Client

Sydney Opera House Trust
Destination NSW

Artist

David McDiarmid with estate executor Dr.Sally Gray

Composer

Stereogamous