Brave the Winds depicts seven cloud-like horses racing across a sky of yellow, pink, purple, and blue as ribbons of wind and light sweep past them. Drawing from the traditional Chinese motif of “seven horses,” the work symbolizes momentum, protection, and courage in turbulent times. The horses appear partially formed from cloud and light, suggesting resilience that is fluid rather than rigid. By placing these mythical figures in a dreamlike, shifting sky, the piece reflects the 2026 theme “Brave the Wind”: moving forward with grace in uncertainty, trusting that hope can carry us even when the path is not fully visible.
Sharon Leung is a Chinese-Canadian artist, pharmacist, teacher, and mother based in Coquitlam, BC. Her work, exhibited across Canada and the U.S., blends realism and whimsy to create narrative-driven scenes that invite reflection and curiosity. Working primarily in acrylic gouache, she draws deep inspiration from Pacific Northwest landscapes, nature, and her Asian heritage. Sharon’s practice explores themes of resilience, imagination, and cultural connection, bringing a unique perspective that balances care, science, and creativity. Her art celebrates the beauty of movement, light, and storytelling, making it a bridge between tradition and contemporary life.
Brave the Winds
Brave the Winds depicts seven cloud-like horses racing across a sky of yellow, pink, purple, and blue as ribbons of wind and light sweep past them. Drawing from the traditional Chinese motif of “seven horses,” the work symbolizes momentum, protection, and courage in turbulent times. The horses appear partially formed from cloud and light, suggesting resilience that is fluid rather than rigid. By placing these mythical figures in a dreamlike, shifting sky, the piece reflects the 2026 theme “Brave the Wind”: moving forward with grace in uncertainty, trusting that hope can carry us even when the path is not fully visible.
Sharon Leung is a Chinese-Canadian artist, pharmacist, teacher, and mother based in Coquitlam, BC. Her work, exhibited across Canada and the U.S., blends realism and whimsy to create narrative-driven scenes that invite reflection and curiosity. Working primarily in acrylic gouache, she draws deep inspiration from Pacific Northwest landscapes, nature, and her Asian heritage. Sharon’s practice explores themes of resilience, imagination, and cultural connection, bringing a unique perspective that balances care, science, and creativity. Her art celebrates the beauty of movement, light, and storytelling, making it a bridge between tradition and contemporary 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.
