The lead installation from my Chinatown series The Bison And The Dragon: Untold Tales.
The Bison and The Dragon
The Dragon is the most important mythological creature to the Chinese, as well as being viewed as one of incredible power and benevolence. The Dragon is often thought of as being an amalgamation of different animals, like those from the zodiac or ones that hold other special meanings. The dragon seen flying on the west-facing wall of Pho City has the head of a bison, an animal of great significance to many Plains First Nations people, creating a new type of dragon that is both strange and familiar. It is in view of the Bow River, bodies of water often being thought of as places dragons may dwell, in some cultures dragons are even thought of as gods of certain rivers. Different cultures have different dragons in the Eastern tradition; there are Korean dragons, Japanese dragons, Vietnamese dragons — in this artwork I was thinking of what a Canadian dragon might be.
The Dragon is often paired with the Phoenix, the masculine Yang to the Phoenix’s feminine Yin, you can view this dragon’s phoenix companion on the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association.
The Bison and The Dragon
The Dragon is the most important mythological creature to the Chinese, as well as being viewed as one of incredible power and benevolence. The Dragon is often thought of as being an amalgamation of different animals, like those from the zodiac or ones that hold other special meanings. The dragon seen flying on the west-facing wall of Pho City has the head of a bison, an animal of great significance to many Plains First Nations people, creating a new type of dragon that is both strange and familiar. It is in view of the Bow River, bodies of water often being thought of as places dragons may dwell, in some cultures dragons are even thought of as gods of certain rivers. Different cultures have different dragons in the Eastern tradition; there are Korean dragons, Japanese dragons, Vietnamese dragons — in this artwork I was thinking of what a Canadian dragon might be.
The Dragon is often paired with the Phoenix, the masculine Yang to the Phoenix’s feminine Yin, you can view this dragon’s phoenix companion on the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association.
A special thanks to Elders Cindy Daniels (Stoney Nakoda Nation) and Rod Scout (Siksika Nation), for their guidance in sharing their knowledge and stories, which helped inspire this piece. As well as the Blackfoot Confederacy who reviewed the artwork. Additionally, thank you to the hundreds of Chinatown community members and visitors that engaged with me regarding this series of artworks and helped inform its creation.
Visit The Bison and The Dragon at 207 1 St SE unit 2, Calgary, AB
photo by Jiaqi (Sukie) Su
Visit The Bison and The Dragon at 207 1 St SE unit 2, Calgary, AB
photo by Jiaqi (Sukie) Su