Sydney Opera House ‘From the Sails: Light Years’
Regarding Australian landmarks, few are more iconic than the Sydney Opera House. Its 50th anniversary warranted a year-long celebration. To launch this extensive program, the Opera House commissioned our team to produce a film capturing the history of the building and the land on which it stands. From the Sails: Light Years, a dazzling 17-minute looping motion artwork and soundtrack celebrating the Opera House, was projection-mapped onto its western “sails” every night from October 19-30, 2022.
Agency
Practice Area
Client
Sydney Opera House
Industry
The Challenge
The project’s scale and the diversity of footage available set the stage for a visual masterpiece, enhanced by a moving soundtrack featuring an original score. But, given the locations from which the Opera House’s western facade can be seen, it wasn’t feasible—logistically or acoustically—to install a vast array of speakers for a 12-night run. The key question was how to seamlessly sync the film’s audio with the visuals for all viewers.
Project Vision
Our team drew on experience synchronizing audio and visuals across smaller exhibition spaces to develop an innovative solution for mobile devices. To enable anyone anywhere to listen while watching the performance on the sails, we adapted our live audio-visual synchronization technology to work over the web with just the scan of a QR code. Our solution provided a device-agnostic, low-friction experience with minimal latency and water-tight security. At just 25 milliseconds of latency—well within broadcast standards—it enabled a magical experience that enveloped audiences in the storytelling through precisely synched audio narration.
A soundtrack featuring an original score accompanied the projected film. Viewers only needed to scan a QR code from any vantage point to access the live-synched audio experience.
James Horan
Scanning the QR code would immediately open the browser client to play the audio—no registration fields to fill, no app to download.
James Horan
Design + Execution
By eliminating the need for physical infrastructure like speakers and wiring, we significantly reduced material use and energy consumption. By utilizing the audience’s personal device to deliver sound, it creates a more accessible and sustainable experience, setting a new standard for major spectacles.
The result is a perfect combination of story and spectacle, seamlessly merging the Sydney Opera House’s rich history with a transformative onsite experience. From the Sails: Light Years begins by reflecting on Tubowgule, the ancient promontory, with a prologue by First Nations artist Jake Duczynski of Studio Gilay. This narrative thread honors the site’s origins as a meeting place for First Nations people and its evolution into a global cultural and artistic landmark. The film intricately weaves SOH Architect Jørn Utzon’s inspiration from organic forms with a celebration of Gadigal Country’s textures and shapes, encapsulating the growth principle and cultural practices of the area.
This journey through time highlights the diverse individuals who’ve contributed to the iconic building’s life—from Jørn Utzon, Ove Arup, Peter Hall, and Anita Levy to the dedicated welders, carpenters, engineers, and construction workers. Including an iconic performance by American bass-baritone Paul Robeson on the construction site further enriches the story, creating a deeply immersive and genuinely transporting experience.
But the magical quality of being onsite and suddenly listening in sync was the transformative experience, allowing the artwork to serve its dual purpose fully. It was a real gift.
Removing the disparity between the speed of light and sound, our live-synch solution makes it possible to hear audio perfectly synchronized to a show we’re seeing at a distance.
James Horan
From the First Nations owners to its ongoing cultural contributions, the challenge was creating a film that captured the spirit of a place central to the Australian cultural landscape.
Daniel Boud, Courtesy of Sydney Opera House
We emphasized significant moments across the past 50 years but with elements of delight and abstraction that spoke to a creative future for the Australian community.
Daniel Boud, Courtesy of Sydney Opera House
We transformed Sydney Opera House into an outdoor cinema and the Sydney Harbor into our theater. It was a transportive experience for all who participated.
Daniel Boud, Courtesy of Sydney Opera House
The sails provided an extraordinary canvas for visual expression that people could view across vast areas—from the waterfront and on boats in the Quay to the rooftop bars and restaurants
James Horan
Project Details
Design Team
Art Processors
Photo Credits
James Horan, Daniel Boud, Courtesy of Sydney Opera House
Open Date
October 19, 2022