Guardian Lion and Bear, as part of my series created for Chinatown, The Bison And The Dragon: Untold Tales.
Guardian Lion and Bear
The guardian lions in this body of work are seen with their child (or cub) walking along the east-facing wall of Pho City. Guardian lions can be seen throughout Chinatown, always presented in pairs. They are another manifestation of Yin and Yang. The male lion on the right will usually have a ball that symbolises the material elements, while the female on the left is often seen with the cub. In this pairing, the female is depicted as a bear, a strong animal notorious for being fiercely protective of her children. This was inspired by stories of mixed-race marriages. First Nations women and Chinese men would at times marry and have children when Chinese men first came to Canada. In this piece, the cub is a mix of both of their parents, representing the stories of those born here with different heritages and unique experiences. Like the other characters and themes within this series of work, different elements once foreign to each other, come together to form something new. The stories of these children and even just Canadian born Chinese in general are ones that we don’t often hear about, and which I related to from my own distinct perspective as a mixed-heritage person.
Guardian Lion and Bear can be viewed at 207 1 St SE unit 2, Calgary, AB
photo by Jiaqi (Sukie) Su
Guardian Lion and Bear
The guardian lions in this body of work are seen with their child (or cub) walking along the east-facing wall of Pho City. Guardian lions can be seen throughout Chinatown, always presented in pairs. They are another manifestation of Yin and Yang. The male lion on the right will usually have a ball that symbolises the material elements, while the female on the left is often seen with the cub. In this pairing, the female is depicted as a bear, a strong animal notorious for being fiercely protective of her children. This was inspired by stories of mixed-race marriages. First Nations women and Chinese men would at times marry and have children when Chinese men first came to Canada. In this piece, the cub is a mix of both of their parents, representing the stories of those born here with different heritages and unique experiences. Like the other characters and themes within this series of work, different elements once foreign to each other, come together to form something new. The stories of these children and even just Canadian born Chinese in general are ones that we don’t often hear about, and which I related to from my own distinct perspective as a mixed-heritage person.
Guardian Lion and Bear can be viewed at 207 1 St SE unit 2, Calgary, AB
photo by Jiaqi (Sukie) Su