Badu Gili: Celestial

Overview

It's one of the city's best-known landmarks, so when the Sydney Opera House illuminates its sails, it stands out. You've seen the venue lit up for Vivid, to launch Mardi Gras and to support bushfire relief — and, as part of Badu Gili, the nightly showcase of First Nations artwork that was first launched in 2017.

The harbourside spot is once again decking out its sails with projections every night from Friday, December 15 until the end of 2023 for its new Badu Gili series. This time around the series will be named Badu Gili: Celestial, focusing on artworks that explore themes of celestial navigation.

This iteration will spotlight the works of artists Gail Mabo and Aotearoa's Nikau Hindin. The works from the pair of First Nations creatives being brought to life on the sails with animation from Yarnology, plus soundscapes by Nigel Westlake, Te Kahureremoa Taumata and Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes.

Gali Mabo, Sia Duff

"The sky is for everybody, the stories which connect people are different everywhere, but the stars remain," says Mabo. "At a time when people forget to look up, I hope my work brings the sky and the best of the world closer for us to see."

You'll have five chances each night to catch the projections from December 15 — the only two nights when you can't catch Badu Gili in the second half of December are Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

As the sun sets each day, the Opera House's eastern Bennelong sail will illuminate with a vibrant six-minute animated projection. The animation will repeat four more times each night — at 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm and 10.30pm.

Badu Gili 2022