For Sydney New Year’s Eve 2025 VANDAL used real plant DNA data to light up Sydney Harbour with a celebration of native flora.

Commissioned by the City of Sydney, VANDAL delivered a large-scale projection developed using real DNA sequences from Australian native plants. This groundbreaking project was created in collaboration with the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. Genetic datasets were translated into visual parameters within VANDAL’s generative animation workflows, shaping how each form grew, moved and transformed. The visuals behaved much like a living organism, organic and rhythmic. VANDAL’s scope included creative direction, concept development, generative animation design and the delivery of projection content mapped specifically to the form and scale of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Experienced by millions both in person and via global broadcast, the projections became a defining visual centrepiece of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

Creative Development & Animation: VANDAL

Executive Creative Director: Chris Scott

Lead Producer: Alice Robinson

Creative: Phillip Muzzall

AI Lead Artist: Joseph Pole

AI Software Engineer: Nicholas Tsaoucis

Client

City of Sydney

Composer

Jono Ma