For Vivid Sydney 2025, the MCA showcased a nightly projection by Vincent Namatjira, featuring powerful symbols of First Nations strength, pride and resilience. Working for the The Electric Canvas in Sydney as Creative Director, I led the design team for the projection that translated Vincent Namajtira’s King Dingo series into a public spectacle for Sydney.

Artist statement – Vincent Namatjira

I am proud to be presenting a new commission for Vivid Sydney 2025, and it’s exciting that my work will be projected on the MCA building – in 2021 I had the pleasure of painting the huge foyer wall commission at the MCA, and I guess the only way to go bigger and more epic than that is to take over the entire outside of the building! I’m looking forward to sharing my most bold and ambitious multimedia work ever with audiences for Vivid Sydney!

My new work is a continuation of my recent ongoing series of paintings titled King Dingo that use the dingo – a protector totem – as a symbol of Indigenous power. King Dingo is about a reversal of colonial power and ownership. Following the 2023 referendum and its ongoing fallout, King Dingo represents a powerful and timely celebration of Aboriginal strength, pride and resilience, with the message that ‘this is Aboriginal Land. We are here. We always have been and always will be.’

The theme for Vivid Sydney 2025 is ‘Dream’ and my new work takes place in a dream-like alternate world that is ruled by King Dingo – for my own kids and for future generations, I want proper respect and recognition in this country for Aboriginal Country, culture and leadership to not just be a dream.