MGM MACAO – LED LOBBY VISUALS - 2025
- We created a five-minute looping digital art installation for the MGM Macao lobby as a tribute to local graffiti culture and its evolution through time. Inspired by the work of a Macao street artist, the piece unfolds across four distinct eras — tracing the transformation of graffiti from its raw street origins to its contemporary digital form. Blending traditional graffiti techniques with state-of-the-art LED wall technology, the installation replicates the authentic experience of painting on a large urban canvas. Through motion design, color, and texture, it reimagines street art within an architectural space, bridging the gap between physical expression and digital storytelling. The result is an immersive visual journey that celebrates creativity, culture, and the vibrant spirit of Macao’s artistic community.
- Role: I led the creative direction, design, and animation for the installation — handling everything from concept development to final delivery, except for the original graffiti artwork and the 3D modeling/texturing
- Studio - Graffiti Plus
Experience the Full Installation in 360°
Explore the complete MGM Macao art installation through this immersive 360° video — click and drag around to rotate and discover every angle of the piece
Four Moments of Progression
Swipe through to explore the four stages of the MGM Macao installation. Each look represents a distinct moment in the evolution of graffiti, designed specifically to fit the unique shape and layout of the LED walls.
Stage 1 – Animated Graffiti Tags
The goal was to create a wide range of variations to enrich the overall composition. Each tag was developed using a mix of traditional graffiti techniques and digital tools, combining the spontaneity of spray paint with motion technology to capture the natural flow and rhythm of the process.
Stage 2 – Graffiti Doodles
Stage 2 – Graffiti Doodles
Stage 2 focuses on the graffiti doodle technique — a method artists use to build a digital grid that helps define the placement and proportions of the final artwork. These doodles serve as a guide to align the composition precisely, ensuring that every element of the upcoming stage fits seamlessly on top. Displayed on the main LED screen, this stage combines animated sketches and custom designs inspired by the local Macao artist’s style, laying the structural foundation for the graffiti piece that comes to life in Stage 3.
Design Process – Stage 3
This timelapse reveals the creation process behind Stage 3, where characters come to life and interact with graffiti lettering. Each element was custom-fit to the unique shape of the LED canvas, blending hand-drawn energy with digital precision.
MGM Lion Animation Reel
A compilation of the different animations created for the MGM Lion character — showcasing its movement, expression, and interaction across the various stages of the installation. Each sequence was designed to complement the surrounding graffiti-inspired visuals and flow seamlessly within the LED environment.
Character Interaction with Graffiti Text
This sequence shows the animated MGM Lion character interacting with the 2D graffiti text. After completing the character animation, each element of the graffiti lettering was hand-animated frame by frame to synchronize perfectly with the lion’s movements — creating a seamless fusion between character and graffiti in motion.
Stage 3 – The Artist in Action
For Stage 3, we recorded the local graffiti artist on a green screen and integrated the footage into a fully animated environment. The scene transforms into an interactive moment where the artist appears on a scissor lift, rising to paint across the massive LED canvas. In another sequence, he wields a “magic roller” that extends over 10 feet, allowing him to reach impossible heights. This stage bridges real-life performance and digital illusion — capturing the energy of live graffiti-making while blending it seamlessly with the motion and scale of the installation.
Stage 4 – Digital Graffiti Dimension
Stage 4 – Digital Graffiti Dimension
Stage 4 introduces the concept of digital graffiti — transforming the LED walls into a dimensional room inspired by the shape of each screen group. The installation was divided into 14 unique LED configurations, each designed to interact through light, shadow, and depth with the creation of 3D graffiti text. This stage symbolizes the transition from traditional street expression to a fully digital art form, where space, motion, and technology merge into one immersive experience.
Transition – From Stage 3 to Stage 4
To connect the narrative between stages, we created custom transitions that visually bridge each moment of the installation. In this transition from Stage 3 to Stage 4, graffiti cans fall from the sky — symbolizing the shift from physical creation to digital transformation. The motion of the falling cans guides the viewer into the next chapter, where traditional street art evolves into the dimensional world of digital graffiti.
Behind the Scenes
A look into the creative process behind the MGM Macao installation. These videos capture key moments of development — from concept sketches and animation tests to the integration of graffiti art within the LED environment — revealing how traditional techniques and digital tools came together to bring the piece to life.
Behind the Scenes
This behind-the-scenes video shows how we used the Graffiti Plus tracking system to capture real graffiti strokes and translate them directly onto the LED wall. The process allowed us to preserve the authentic movement and energy of each spray, blending the tactile essence of street art with cutting-edge digital technology.