Photos By: Nicholas Xenophondos @xenophondos
Last Saturday night, Sydney’s nightlife reached new artistic heights as Noir Nightclub played host to the first-ever “House of Hearts” takeover, featuring the world-renowned Black Tape Project™ — live in a nightclub setting for the very first time in Australia. The night was an explosion of art, sensuality, and sound, blending Miami heat with Sydney class in a way that only Noir could pull off.
At the centre of it all was Drakhan Blackhart, the creator, founder, and pioneer behind the Black Tape Project™, and the world’s only body tape expert. Known globally for transforming the human body into living, breathing art using nothing but adhesive tape, Blackhart has built a movement — and a genre — out of creativity, resilience, and raw passion.
From his humble beginnings as a first-generation Cuban American born and raised in Miami, Drakhan’s story is one of grit and rebirth. In 2008, he was living in his car, broke, and at rock bottom. By fate, he stumbled upon a hidden cigar box left by his late grandfather containing $26,000 in old cash — a discovery that would quite literally change the trajectory of his life. With those funds, he bought a cheap Canon Rebel XTI camera and began shooting cars, bikes, and models across Miami.
One fateful shoot — when a model handed him a roll of tape — sparked what would become a global art phenomenon. What began as an experiment quickly evolved into a new visual language. Over years of practice, particularly in Miami nightclubs taping dancers before performances, Drakhan perfected his craft. The result: Body Tape Art, a new genre that fuses sculpture, fashion, and performance into one unforgettable form.
His work has since graced over 42 countries, from EDC Vegas and Ultra Miami to Ibiza, Singapore, and the Cannes Film Festival. He’s collaborated with heavyweights like Michael Bay, Rick Ross, Maluma, Billy Ray Cyrus, and world-class DJs such as Carl Cox, Chuckie, Afrojack, and Black Coffee.
And now, Sydney got its first taste of this global phenomenon.
The House of Hearts x Black Tape Project takeover at Noir Nightclub was more than just an event — it was a performance art revolution. Models covered in intricate black tape designs performed a jaw-dropping fire show, their bodies glimmering under the club’s lights as flames danced around them. It was bold, it was daring, and it was beautifully executed.
Adding to the night’s magnetic energy was Shiralee Coleman, who took to the decks for a powerful, high-fashion DJ set wearing black tape art across her stunning physique. Her performance was pure class — sensual yet elegant — accompanied by a live trumpet player who improvised over her house beats, creating an atmosphere that felt straight out of Miami Beach, yet unmistakably Sydney chic.
From Miami to Sydney, from the streets to the spotlight, the Black Tape Project™ continues to evolve — and its Australian nightclub debut was nothing short of historic.
The night was a massive success, drawing a packed crowd of Sydney’s creative elite, fashion icons, influencers, and underground art lovers who came to witness history in motion. It wasn’t just a party — it was a living, breathing installation.
As Drakhan put it best, “The Black Tape Project™ is the foundation of a new genre, and our legacy has yet to be written.”
If Saturday night was any indication, the next chapter of that legacy might just belong to Sydney.