Migrating Light was a series of holographic audiovisual sculptures positioned along the docks and piers of Walsh Bay, Sydney Harbour for Vivid Sydney 2024.

Transparent screens displayed floating, animated images accompanied by layered audio, each recounting personal migration stories that reflected Australia’s diverse history. The installation created a captivating pathway between Vivid Sydney’s harbour exhibits and Barangaroo, transforming the waterfront into an immersive narrative journey.

The project used cutting-edge transparent screens and 3D imaging to reinterpret Australia’s migration history in an innovative and engaging way. Designed to captivate families, technology enthusiasts, and history buffs, the work invited reflection while maintaining the spectacle expected at Vivid Sydney.

Produced in collaboration with digital artist Joel Zika, the work featured twelve transparent screens showcasing nearly an hour of animated visuals and audio stories. Each story was rooted in personal accounts, blending archival materials, historical objects and contemporary digital techniques to bring migration narratives to life.

Migrating Light represented a culmination of Collide’s ongoing collaborations with Zika, combining digital innovation with storytelling to create thought-provoking public art. Their partnership delivered light-based installations worldwide, revealing hidden histories and personal narratives through digital media and illusion. Previous works included installations for Botanica in Queensland, Drift in Mornington, White Night in Victoria, and Enlighten in Canberra.

Through Migrating Light, Collide and Zika pushed boundaries, using light, sound, and digital technology to reimagine archival materials and invite audiences to reflect on Australia’s multifaceted migration stories.