Key Points
- The SBS Lunar New Year creative includes elements from Chinese, Samoan, Nepali, Korean, Vietnamese and other cultures.
- It took over two months to create this imagery.
- The creative includes details from various myths and beliefs.
The Chinese Zodiac repeats itself every 12 years and Saturday marks the start of the Year of the Dragon.
In Chinese culture - as well as within other communities marking Lunar New Year - the dragon represents wisdom, power, strength, wealth and prosperity, among other positive qualities.
Capturing the symbolic elements of the dragon from a culturally wholistic perspective, was the goal for the creation of the SBS Lunar New Year artwork.
Staff from across SBS at the NSW Premier's Lunar New Year Celebration. Credit: SBS
Margarett Cortez, Creative Manager News & Communities at SBS explains.
"We put together a tight brief and worked closely with the stakeholders to ensure the artwork was inclusive of our many communities who celebrate [the Lunar New Year]."
The SBS creative for the Year of the Dragon, 2024 Lunar New Year celebrations. Credit: SBS
The colour green is significant to the Korean community, who are celebrating the .
The cup boasts Hibiscus flower motifs, called the Mugunghwa in Korean, which are believed to bring good luck to the community. One can see the traditional Korean house in the cup.
The red overflowing teacup represents Chinese culture. Holding the mountains from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the cup is embossed with chrysanthemum flowers.
The colour red and the chrysanthemum flowers represent good luck and abundance in Chinese culture.
The overflowing cup of tea is associated with abundance in East Asian cultures.Gina Tran, artist
The golden-yellow teapot in the right corner denotes the Mongolian community.
The Young Purple Pasque flowers, also known as 'Pulsatilla' are intrinsic to the Mongolian culture.
The yellow teacup on the right represents Vietnamese beliefs.
The overflowing cup holds the Ha Long Bay with a traditional junk boat. The name 'Ha Long' translates to the 'descend of the dragon'.
The pink Hoa Dao flowers and the bright yellow Hoa Mai blossoms represent prosperity and good fortune in the culture.
Artist Gina Tran developed five versions of this artwork. Credit: SBS
The year 2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon.
According to folklore, dragons are mystical creatures associated with abundance, regality, good harvest, wealth and good fortune all over Asian cultures.
The dragon in the artwork is reflective, powerful yet peaceful, sporting a dragon beard in Samoan, Chinese, Nepali, Korean and Mongolian colours.
This dragon is floating across the Australian skies and lands depicted by a combination of waratah, protea, lotus, and lily pads in the foreground.
It represents the pluralistic, inclusive Australian social fabric where these cultures cohesively thrive. The floral colour scheme was intentional.
Ms Cortez explains: "We wanted the colour scheme to be fantastical. Especially after the tumultuous year of 2023, we wanted our creativity to look peaceful yet majestic."
Artist Gina Tran chose the imagery of teacups to hope for a year of zen and rejuvenation after the challenging year of 2023.
Cortez adds: "The gentle giant dragon smiles in the hope of bringing zen and calm to everyone in the new year."
