Vivid Sydney organisers have defended claims that one of their exhibitions was sexualised, after footage posted on social media sparked widespread outrage. Lenny Sinclair, a two-time Australian Kickboxing Champion, shared a video of the installation 'Vaiola' projected on the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) building in Circular Quay. The footage showed a woman in a revealing pink bodysuit thrusting during a dance sequence.
Many Australians labelled the content as 'disgusting' and inappropriate for a family-oriented event. In response, a Vivid Sydney spokesman told Daily Mail that the festival was aware of the feedback surrounding the work by Samoan-Australian artist Angela Tiatia.
'The work, at its core, explores themes of migration, memory, longing, belonging and beauty through the artist's cinematic visual language,' the spokesman said. 'As with all contemporary art, interpretations may vary.' He also emphasised that the 23-day event remained a 'family-friendly festival'.
'Vivid Sydney welcomes audiences of all ages and backgrounds, with a program carefully curated to showcase creativity, innovation and artistic expression,' he added. 'Vaiola forms part of the 6.5km Vivid Light Walk, which features more than 40 installations. Vivid Sydney is focused on delivering a world-leading festival experience in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all audiences, and we acknowledge the feedback received.'
The Daily Mail understands that Vaiola transforms the MCA with a vivid, immersive palette featuring recurring motifs from Ms Tiatia's practice, including pearls, water, fire, flowers and the female form. Presented at a monumental scale, the work invites audiences into a richly layered visual experience and a shared public engagement with personal and universal themes.
Vivid Sydney producers worked in consultation with Angela Tiatia and animation company Spinifex to strike a balance between maintaining the artistic integrity of the artist and creating content suitable for the general public. Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper stressed that the event was appropriate for families.
'Vivid Sydney offers families the chance to enjoy a fun night out in the city, with more than 80 per cent of the program free to enjoy,' he said. 'We want people of all ages to be able to experience our city's vibrancy firsthand – from trying delicious NSW food to watching world-class entertainment. Providing family-friendly experiences is a priority for the NSW Government and something we are committed to supporting during major events.'
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy echoed Mr Kamper's sentiment, stating that families were the main target audience. 'Families are at the heart of our festival and play an important role when shaping the program,' Mr Sheehy said. 'This year, we have curated a number of wonderful family friendly experiences – many of which are free to enjoy, and are focused on imagination, creativity and play. Vivid Sydney is about creating unforgettable memories, and for families, it offers magical moments where people of all ages can discover and explore the city in new and unexpected ways.'
The defence comes after Monday's 9.30pm Star-Bound drone show was cancelled due to dozens of drones plunging into Darling Harbour. As a result of 'unforeseen technical difficulties', both shows on Tuesday and Wednesday were also called off, with the potential for more cancellations. 'No decisions have been made at this stage regarding the drone show scheduled for Sunday, May 31 and beyond. Further updates on future performances will be provided when available.'
