Wind of Change was an aerial artwork by Studio Drift that explored the invisible forces shaping our world. Set above the mangrove landscapes of Jubail Island as part of Manar Abu Dhabi, the piece used light, movement and sound to translate wind, currents and time into a shared public experience.

Two thousand drones moved as a single system, tracing patterns drawn from environmental data and natural behaviour. The choreography shifted between moments of stillness and momentum, forming abstract landscapes before resolving into a luminous falcon, a symbol deeply rooted in Abu Dhabi’s identity. The work concluded as the formations dispersed into a swirling vortex, pointing toward an evolving future.

ON THE SLY composed the musical score for Wind of Change, developed in close collaboration with Studio Drift, which helped form the emotional framework of the piece. Rather than following the visuals, the score helped shape them, giving rhythm, scale and intention to the movement in the sky.

Together, sound and light transformed unseen forces into something felt, creating a fleeting but powerful connection between environment, technology and human perception.