2025 Year of the Snake
Lantern Stories
šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square
North of the Vancouver Art Gallery
Hundred Pace Snake
Godkidlla 廖小子
The waves of the ocean are the brushstrokes, and the pattern of the hundred-pace snake are the infinity loops. The hundred pace snake is Taiwan’s most representative snake. In Taiwanese Indigenous legends, the snake symbolizes wisdom, independence, stability, and peace; it is also regarded as a guardian deity. The sea, on the other hand, symbolizes fluidity and convergence.
Taiwan and Canada are both countries with diverse cultural communities co-existing. This unique pairing of the hundred pace snake and the continuous flow of the ocean that stretches between the two places are a hope and blessing for the new year.
Ocean Artworks
Granville Island
Snake Lantern Series
Arts Umbrella
For these lanterns, 33 students across four classes at Arts Umbrella were challenged to contribute unique artwork that showcased their personal expression inspired by this year’s theme, 2025 Year of the Snake: Fluidity in Diversity. They were encouraged to think beyond typical depictions of snakes in media and pop culture, and to consider the many different shapes, forms, patterns and textures that the snake could embody, as well as how diversity can bloom when what is different is embraced and celebrated.
Students aged 9-12 and 13-17 in our 3D Modeling and Animation courses used a 3D Modeling software called Blender to create otherworldly digital snakes, while younger students aged 4-6 and 6-8 worked in our Clay Sculpture classes to hand-build and glaze imaginative and colourful ceramic snakes.
Turtle Island
Studio 101
Come, learn the original history of North America from the ignition of a different perspective. Canada, United States, Mexico—these are all very new labels for this land. Come, and share in the culture, rich with stories and colours, relearn some history, and find the quietness and inner peace in the legend of Turtle Island.
Begin Anew
Stellamay Arts
With the theme of “Fluidity in Diversity” I at first had a hard time conceptualizing it. Trying to express this theme in a more visual way was challenging. Eventually, I landed on trying to express the wish of change for the better.
We as people are always changing, learning, and growing, whether for better or for worse, there will always be change in our lives and then in turn will always shape us as human beings. The snake shedding its skin represents us shedding our old selves, constantly evolving but bits and pieces cling on for they also always stick with us to some degree. Red often symbolizes happiness and good fortune. Oftentimes we want to cling to the good things of the past but shedding them is necessary for us to grow into the future. Learning about the world around us and thus also enriching our old lives. The gold on the snake symbolises wealth and prosperity of knowledge. Knowledge is the best power we can equip ourselves with in these trying times. The red moon behind the snake conveys that there will always be new fortunes and good luck on the horizon if you let change happen.
Do Not Disturb
Rise
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been laughed at about my name, my grades, my body. When I was 8 years old, I used to fight with my classmates because of it, and I would even start fights just to silence the teasing voices. As I got older I started defending myself against these comments less and less, only speaking up when the comments hit home. By the time I was in the upper grades I stopped responding at all, even though it still hurt me. At 13 years old, I started to realize that those words didn’t really matter, and that I couldn’t stop all the voices. Instead of being trapped in those negative feelings, I could just choose to ignore them, which is why I created this, Do Not Disturb Mode.
This work expresses the feeling of wanting to ignore the harsh words. The things that hurt me are represented in the small talking heads, and the me in the centre wants to find freedom, but I often hurt the people who reach out to me. The coiled snake is always protecting itself, so I drew a snake-shaped headset. Its appearance is a reminder that I can freely choose whether I want to listen to these words or not. I often feel like I am submerged in these words, so the use of water as a backdrop is to show the irony of struggling when drowning—instead, when I let go and go with the flow, I find my balance.
Bentall Centre
Ts’inqwa’
(Lightning Snake)
Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun
The lightning snake is a powerful being in our mythology, it is associated with the thunder bird and the two headed serpent. They fly through the air and have noses sharp enough to split trees. This piece was inspired by a thunder storm here on the west coast in 2020 and how I saw lightning striking in the city. I wanted to represent that scene from a Coast Salish perspective through our own art style and world view.
Sxwuxwa’us ‘i’ Si:nlhqi’
(Thunderbird and Two-Headed Serpent)
Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun
The design depicts two of the most powerful creatures in our world. Two of the most powerful helpers. They are grappling with each other but not in combat—in that sense it is a false dichotomy. The relationships between things in nature exist outside of morality. The “good” or “bad” is something imposed by us as we struggle to make sense of something that transcends our understanding. This isn’t a scene of a fight, but just an engagement between beings; an engagement from which will come an understanding that is new as their energies come together.
This also represents the journey that I have taken as I work to learn more about my culture and art. While so much has been lost, there is also so much that is there and remains in the teachings passed down in families, that exists in people, in texts, teachings that exist in the land. It is hard work to learn, and the more that you learn the more that you realize you don’t know. This is a journey that doesn’t end. Learning is sacred. Doing the work to learn is sacred.
Indigenous Peoples
Caleb Dysart
This piece imagines a future where Indigenous Peoples reclaim and reimagine their identities, drawing strength from traditions and connection to the land. The work is a call for unity, resilience, and a renewed respect for all life.
Creator
Caleb Dysart
This artwork focuses on the Creator, embodying the sacred connection that ties all living beings. Cree teachings reveal the interconnected nature of all things, where everything moves together in a dance of reciprocity. The illustration shows this interconnectedness that holds us all.
Transformer Tricksters
Chase Gray
Ravens are huge tricksters, and powerful shapeshifters. I often like to think of raven as a true gender neutral being; who says what gender it has to present as when it transforms? I chose this animal to represent trans folk in this image, and for it to be upheld by the creature behind the origins of the Musqueam name.
From the Musqueam website:
The name Musqueam relates back to the flowering plant, məθkʷəy̓, which grows in the Fraser River estuary. There is a sχʷəy̓em̓ that has been passed on from generation to generation that explains how we became known as the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm – People of the məθkʷəy̓ plant.
The old people spoke of a small lake called xʷməm̓qʷe:m (Camosun Bog) where the sʔi:ɬqəy̓ (double-headed serpent) originated. They were warned as youth to be cautious and not go near or they would surely die. This sʔi:ɬqəy̓ was so massive its winding path from the lake to the stal̕əw̓ (river) became the creek flowing through Musqueam to this day. Everything the serpent passed over died and from its droppings bloomed a new plant, the məθkʷəy̓.
For this reason, the people of long ago named that place xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam – place of the məθkʷəy̓).
Infinite Horizons
Chase Gray
On May 10th, Vancouver was gifted with the dancing northern lights in the sky, ribbons of pinks, greens and purples stretched to the south, and people from all over the country connected through the event over social media over the next few days. The spectrum of colours that the Aurora gives off are some of the most gorgeous to work with, and using the recent feelings of excitement from having seen the northern lights for the first time inspired most of this image. A night of the Aurora truly brings together each person who looks up, everybody experiencing the same, and yet, different horizons. The mountains and pride flags stretching infinitely are representative of that concept of ‘infinite horizons’ from my perspective.
The aurora itself is shaped as ancestral beings, a raven and killer whale. Raven is seen as a trickster and transformer, playful and curious. Many 2SIQ (two-spirit Indigiqueer) folks identify with the Raven, and this imagery is to honour our 2SIQ ancestors who have passed on, many of whom are responsible for paving the way to a more inclusive society. The killer whale transformation is representing the natural world- the native plants and animals, our waters and ecosystem. It is a wonderful sight to see when our resident pods of whales make themselves known in False Creek or Burrard Inlet and English Bay. They are a reminder to all that we must respect these lands and waters, and each creature who calls this territory Home.
The design itself is a contemporary spindle whorl, which takes inspiration from old belongings of ancestors that were used to spin wool for textiles. Because spindle whorls were designed and carved to be spun, the design can be viewed and comprehended from any angle.
800 Robson Plaza
Void of Ignorance
Ilya Viryachev
It is both fascinating and profound to witness how, in our lifetime, humanity is increasingly shaping its own future. These shifts are taking place not only in the realm of the mind but also in the tangible world, from advancements in medicine to the rise of robotics. As a society, we find ourselves at a crossroads, faced with crucial decisions about the direction our future will take, balancing the interplay between the natural world and the technologies we have developed. This work is a reflection on the hope that, emerging from the void—the metaphorical darkness from which we all originated—the evolution of our future will harmonize with the cosmic, the natural, and the light, guiding us toward possibilities and wonders that remain beyond our current imagination.
Year of the Snake
Angel Kao
Wood is the element for the Year of the Snake in 2025. Symbols of earthiness and growth evoke the elemental balance that the snake represents—rooted yet transformative. The wood form honours the enduring spirit of the snake as a guardian and guide through change. This piece honours the snake’s role as a wise guide, reminding us to stay flexible and balanced in a changing world.
Ophidian Flow (流蛇)
Ris Wong / imaginarybeasts
The symbol of the snake winds through history, mythology, and science; and changes meanings to suit context. The meaning that resonates to me as a nonbinary trans Chinese person is how the snake retains its identity as it flows into diverse circumstances.
There is a fluidity to diversity when minority groups spurned by the majority culture embrace each other, live together, and find solidarity. Despite not fully understanding each other, the lesbian community formed strong connections with Chinese immigrants in the era of Chinese exclusion. Chinese farmers built respectful connections with Indigenous peoples of Vancouver as mainstream Canadian society discriminated against both groups.
Here, the snake is joined by four friends: the centipede, the scorpion, the toad, and the lizard – the other Five Poisons of Chinese folklore. Although they have inspired fear in those unfamiliar with them, all five are fascinating creatures that share habitats and are interconnected in the web of life.
Snakery Bakery
Lisa LaRose
After stumbling upon some images of pink albino ball pythons – ones that looked a lot like glazed donuts – I became enthralled with the combination. I first made a few smaller artworks (and a pin design) featuring individual snakes in donuts, but I still wanted to paint even more snakes in donuts, as there are so many lovely and interesting breeds out there. In this painting, you can find 11 snakes: Corn Snake, Milk Snake, Ball Python, Hognose, Albino Milk Snake, Mexican King Snake, Garter Snake, Green Vine Snake, Rosy Boa, Black Mamba, and Red-headed Krait.
Serpentine in Bloom
Priscilla Yu
My lantern design pays tribute to the remarkable adaptability of snakes. These creatures embody the ability to shift and transform, seamlessly fitting into and flexing with the spaces they inhabit. This dynamic nature symbolizes thriving and growing in ever-changing environments, celebrating this transformative strength, resilience, and how adaptability allows for growth.
Nakinee
Lanna Souvanny
This represents the Nak (or Naga in Thai), a Lao mythological creature living in rivers or beneath the earth. Nak and Nakinee are guardians of prosperity, treasures and wisdom. They are believed to be symbols of water and fertility. However, they despise those who pollute waters, caverns or sacred spots and can provoke floods and storms.
Armour of The Serpiyente
Mayo Landicho
For Pacific Islanders and Filipinos, the snake is a powerful symbol tied to the legendary hero, Banna. As a tattoo, it functions not only as a protective talisman, guarding women from the spirits of enemies involved in the Lalapuan (blood feud), but also as a symbol of fertility and the creative life force. The snake embodies rebirth, transformation, immortality, healing, and the continual renewal of life. It represents wisdom, personal growth, and the cyclical nature of existence. Key symbols within this imagery include the snake’s skin, which signifies resilience and protection; the snake’s belly, representing humility and being grounded; and its hissing tongue, which echoes the voices of our ancestors. The coiled snake embodies untapped spiritual potential, enlightenment, and the quest for a deeper understanding of oneself and the Divine. The winding form of the snake reflects the journey toward balance, self-realization, and union with the Sacred.
Ink Wash Snakes
Janice Liu
The digital art techniques used in this piece reflect my ongoing effort to combine Western cartooning influences with my Chinese heritage in my illustrations. Varied brushstrokes and watercolour ink washes aim to imitate traditional Chinese painting, while the cartoony look of the snakes is born from my love of American cartoons. The subjects of this piece are anacondas and monstera plants, both found in South America, which adds a third influence.
Roughed Up
Neana
This piece centers around the theme of guardianship and fighting through adversity to live the life we choose. Through pain and conflict, we may stand our ground to protect our loved ones and values and perhaps even inspire strength to those who need it. The snake acts as a protector but also a vivid reminder of the challenges we will always be faced with. Though we may get hurt, we need to know when to make a stand and embrace the life we want to live despite fear. The snake encourages our hearts and mind to embrace what may come and face it and the rewards or hard earned effort.
Blossoms of the Serpent
Ceiiru
A white serpent is said to symbolize wisdom, prosperity or transformation. Dreams of one can bring about change within the individual. The circular movement as it moves towards the skies creates ripples that birth new beginnings. A new path is born through the swirls created in the wake of the serpent’s ascend- sprouting colors and scattering papers towards the cities, on the back of a much smaller serpent, a girl once lost now reaches out to grasp new connections with renewed will and the desire to reunite with the stories of her origin once more.
Pendulum Gallery
Comics on the Island - Taiwan
Ruan Guang-Min
Literature gives us the possibility to imagine and express our emotions about the world;
Comics allow us to visualize the emotions this world and ourselves hold.
Stories allow us to pass on the truths of what we’ve experienced, the celebrations of lives well lived, and the potential we saw in the future. In the words of our predecessors, we find room for interpretation. In the detailed lines of Ruan Guang-Min’s graphic novels, we travel through time and space to another life.
Ruan’s stories explore something new within Taiwan’s past. From the Japanese colonial period to the small town lives in a developing era, the struggles and the triumphs of the everyday Taiwanese are laid out in steady ink. Capturing the fluidity of people’s natures, these comics delve into the darkness of humanity as well as the simple joys of the human experience. In the barbershop, we find something new born from the old. In the broken lever scale, we find the crossroads of our free will and the reality of society. These stories invite you to explore the world and our relations to each other, through the diverse perspectives of the Taiwanese.
What’s on the next page in the comic of your life?
The Lantern City is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered on this land, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples whose arts and stories inspire us to bring communities together.
