Commissioned by Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Opera House, the seven-minute projection animated McDiarmid’s iconic works – including Bedsheet Paintings, Disco Kwilts, Rainbow Aphorisms, and the titular Kiss of Light series – into a vibrant celebration of queer identity, protest, and joy.

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