Exhibition re-imagines Year of Snake with children and international perspectives

As the Spring Festival approaches, the American International School of Guangzhou (AISG) opened its annual Chinese New Year and Child-Friendly City Art Exhibition on January 14, showcasing a unique Year of the Snake in the eyes of children and international expats.

A visitor looking at the artworks in the exhibition (Photo: AISG)

The exhibition builds upon AISG's cherished Hongbao Campaign, an initiative that fosters a culture of giving during Chinese New Year celebrations. This year's themes, "The Year of the Snake" and "Child-Friendly City," unite over 100 creators within the AISG community, displaying 130 pieces ranging from paintings to collaborative installations.

"At AISG, we seek to celebrate the intersection of international and local cultures, fostering a sense of belonging in our students while celebrating the traditions that make Guangzhou and China so unique," said AISG Director Kevin Baker, emphasizing the exhibition's broader mission.

The students' work reflects a deep connection to their host city, Guangzhou. Many pieces skillfully integrate the snake motif with local cultural symbols, such as the Canton Tower and the city's signature red kapok flowers. Meanwhile, some pieces re-imagine the traditional Chinese New Year aesthetics.

Lucy, an AISG alumna, contributed a MidJourney AI-generated piece that depicts the Chinese New Year in bold hues of amber and Klein blue instead of the traditional red. Her work shows a young girl intertwined with a blue-and-yellow-patterned snake, with a serene expression of clarity and resolve.

"I think blue conveys calmness, while yellow represents nobility. In the new year, I hope everyone finds peace and strength, just like the girl in my painting," Lucy explained.

Lucy's work (Image: Lucy)

The exhibition also highlights the fusion of Chinese and Western interpretations of the symbol snake. Chen Zhou, a Guangzhou-based artist, worked with AISG students to create a bamboo installation inspired by The Little Prince. The snake-shaped structure, featuring the iconic "swallowed elephant" from the story, integrates traditional Guangdong bamboo weaving techniques—commonly used in crafting lion dance heads—with student-created artworks forming the snake's "skin".

The bamboo installation made by Chen Zhou and AISG students (Photo: AISG)

"While the snake symbolizes temptation in the Christian tradition, The Little Prince offered a shared narrative that celebrates children's imagination and creativity—values both Chinese and Western education systems should protect," Chen explained his intention.

This theme resonates in a Grade 7 student, Haowen's whimsical vision of a child-friendly city. His artwork imagines a world filled with lollipops, bubble tea, pizza, and toys. "To me, a child-friendly city is a place with all the things I love," Haowen shared with the endearing simplicity and honesty of a child.