2026: Behind the Scenes – Angela Tiatia on the making of Vaiola

Submitted by Vivid Sydney

19 Jun 2026
Vaiola by Angela Tiatia

It was fierce, it was feminine, and it was undoubtedly one of the most magnetic artworks at Vivid Sydney 2026!

Vaiola by Sāmoan-Australian artist Angela Tiatia lit up the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art with a lush palette and striking visual language of pearls, flowers, water, fire and the female form. Translating to “water of life”, a powerful message was channelled through its beauty. 

We sat down with the artist to hear more about her motivations in creating this striking ode to nature, culture, and femininity.

 

Share

Related Blogs
Step into a world of heightened senses in this exclusive interview with David Moraton, the artist and composer behind the spellbinding artwork Laniakea at Vivid Sydney 2026. As someone with the perceptual condition synaesthesia, Moraton processes colours simultaneously as sound, and vice versa. Named after a cosmic supercluster, Laniakea traverses galaxies, with its kaleidoscopic colours and patterns dictated by the artist’s own original symphonic score.
Read more
Looking for that perfect shareable Vivid Sydney snap? This year’s Light Walk is packed with 43 installations and projections sure to sparkle on Instagram or other socials. Plus, it’s easier to explore than ever, as an unbroken 6.5km trail of light art from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour.
Read more
Vivid Sydney is a stunning spectacle, but it's not always easy to capture all its beauty with a photo.  Want your photo memories and social media posts to really sparkle? Vivid Sydney photographer Daniel Tran has shared nine of his top photography tricks to avoid taking blurry, dark or generally underwhelming shots.
Read more