For Angel Kao, the arrival of the Year of the Snake is quite personal. That’s because the East Van artist was born under this zodiac sign in Taipei seven years before immigrating to Canada. Therefore, Kao was delighted when the Society of We Are Canadians Too asked her to submit a design for a large lantern for The Lantern City, which has exhibitions at five Vancouver sites.
“The Year of the Snake represents growth, transformation, reincarnation, renewal, and pretty much shedding the old and creating space for the new,” Kao tells Pancouver over Zoom. “So, that’s what I wanted to embody with my artwork.”
Her design, entitled Year of the Snake, is among 10 Lunar New Year lanterns in the We Are Family exhibition at 800 Robson Plaza on the south side of the Vancouver Art Gallery. They will remain there until February 18.
Meanwhile, the Lantern City is presenting other artistic lanterns at Granville Island, the Bentall Centre, Pendulum Gallery, and šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square.
According to the Minguo calendar (民國曆), each New Year is also associated with one of five elements: wood, metal, water, fire, and earth.
“So, in my piece, you’ll see a bit of nature and a woodsy kind of look,” Kao says. “I wanted to keep that theme there.”
Kao creates snake stickers
Some art lovers have told Kao that her pieces remind them of the lowbrow art movement. The lantern design has the free-flowing sensibility associated with this type of art, as well as reddish and gold tones representing the Lunar New Year.
“Whatever comes to mind goes on the paper,” Kao explains. “I often really like to listen to philosophical audio in the background, too. So sometimes, whenever the words resonate with me, I’ll have this in the artwork as well.”
She has also designed gold-foiled red envelopes and stickers based to welcome the Year of the Snake.
Kao is a versatile artist who enjoys painting murals, drawing zine comics, and designing brands, merchandise, and packaging. She’s fascinated with Japanese folklore and sometimes creates art based on dreams, which she records in a journal.
In the Year of the Snake, she is looking forward to teaching or facilitating doodle workshops and creating more murals. She encourages anyone to contact her if they’re interested in having a mural on an interior or exterior wall of their home, office, or even windows.
“I just feel really honoured and very happy and excited about my road as an artist,” Kao says.
Angel Kao’s Year of the Snake will be at 800 Robson Plaza until February 18 as part of The Lantern City exhibitions. Learn more about Angel Kao by visiting her website or by following her on Instagram @KaoDraws and @KaoDesigns. Follow Pancouver on X @PancouverMedia, Bluesky @pancouver.bsky.social, and Instagram @PancouverMedia. Also follow Charlie Smith on Bluesky @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social.
