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COASTAL LUNAR LANTERNS
Jan 30 – Feb 19, 2019 | Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver
To acknowledge that we are fortunate to be able to gather on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish People, these lanterns are created with the designs of indigenous artists from Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh along with an indigenous artist from Taiwan Atayal tribe to celebrate one of the most important traditions in Asia – Lunar New Year. Celebrate like no other – LunarFest, with support from Tourism Vancouver and Vancouver Convention Centre, is proud to present these lanterns that are truly unique to the City of Vancouver.
Lanterns created by: Yi Lun Yao, Taiwan
Salish Giant
Based on a local Squamish legend, the waters were once home to a large mythological creature that helped create the geography of the inlet. In his sketch, an upside down massive octopus is making up the space for the ocean. The line work hatch pattern of the mountains creates a distinctive graphic break between water and sky.
Cory Douglas (Squamish/Vancouver)
Born in Vancouver and a Squamish Nation member with Haida and Tsimshian ancestry. Cory began his business ‘Modern Formline’ as a graphic artist and is now proficiently designing drums, tattoos, original paintings, and hand engraved jewellery.
Spirit of Life
Light has the power to evoke spiritual forces because of the vitality it represents to almost every culture. In Coast Salish culture, the winter months are spent telling stories and celebrating life by singing and dancing around a large fire in the longhouse. It is a beautiful scene of flickering & twirling light. Cannell has tried to embody the Spirit of Life and celebration in the design for this beautiful cross-cultural lantern display. This modern Coast Salish artwork displays colours that are traditionally seen at contemporary lantern festivals, and portraits a child with a lantern in hand, who is joyfully dancing in the moonlight.
Thomas Cannell (Musqueam/Vancouver)
Born on Musqueam traditional territory in 1980, Thomas has worked alongside his mother, Coast Salish artist Susan Point as a carver and designer. In 2014, Thomas was awarded a British Columbia Achievement Award for First Nations Art and is currently a board member on the British Columbia Arts Council.
Praying to the Crows
Symbolizing the relationship between humans and the crows of Vancouver, the three moons designed represent both lunar icons and the people. The crows are known to bring joy and messages to the people they fly over. When crows are flying in flocks over the city, it brings people happiness to see how they have survived the harsh developments in the city and continue to bring happiness to all of Vancouver. “Spò:l” means crow in Tsleil-waututh.
Zachary “SKOKAYLEM” George (Tsleil-Waututh/Vancouver)
Born and raised in North Vancouver and now living in Chehalis, BC. His work is inspired by his late grandparents, Chief Dan and Amy George, and Robert and Betty Edge. Zac studied carving with Don Joe of Chehalis and is proud to use the Coast Salish artistic style. He lives the rich cultural lifestyle of the Salish People: he is a hunter, fisherman, and follows the traditional spirituality practiced by his people for centuries.
Sharing
Atayal loves sharing and following customs (known as “gaga” in Atayal). This artwork is inspired by Atayal’s traditional weaving pattern, facial tattoo style, and its core belief in sharing and “gaga”. One of the “gaga” is that the spoils from the hunt should be shared with each other, it is how the community remains connected and engaged closely. This concept is symbolized by the wild boars. Another “gaga” is the facial tattoo. In order for people to cross the “rainbow bridge” and get to heaven after death, they have to earn their facial tattoo first. For women, it’s by being skilled in weaving. This is depicted by the traditional Atayal weaving pattern and the female with facial tattoo in the artwork.
Miru Hayung (Atayal/Taoyuan, Taiwan)
A Taiwanese indigenous artist from Zihing tribe of Atayal in Taoyuan, Taiwan. In Atayal, “miru” means “creative writing or painting”. His artworks emphasize on the theme of “continuous life”. His colourful abstract artworks reflect themes such as achieving balance in nature, ever-changing characteristic in nature, as well as the exquisite human emotion.
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