Artist in Residence: Wei Lun Ha
This Lunar New Year, Commercial Bay is excited to feature the dynamic and immersive works of Chinese artist Wei Lun Ha. Ha’s jade-toned design symbolizes growth, harmony, and renewal, with looping snakes forming a circle of unity. When mirrored, the design creates the numeral 8, a symbol of infinite prosperity in Chinese culture. Using lifts and entrances Ha's installation reimagines everyday spaces, blending tradition and modern artistry to honour the adaptability and fortune of the Wood Snake year, offering visitors a moment of festive reflection and joy.
See his captivating artwork on display now around Commercial Bay.
The Design
"In celebration of the Year of the Wood Snake, I created a symbolic design that embodies the auspicious qualities of this serpentine year. The jade-like hues evoke feelings of growth, harmony, and balance, while the looping tongues of the snakes form a seamless circle, representing unity and wholeness.
When mirrored, the two snakes come together to form the numeral 8, a revered symbol of good fortune and prosperity in many Eastern cultures. This deliberate design element invites the viewer to contemplate the infinite possibilities and blessings that arise from harmony and balance.
Through this piece, I aim to capture the essence of the Wood Snake year, where adaptability, renewal, and good fortune entwine like the snakes themselves. May this design serve as a reminder of the beauty and prosperity that emerges from the cyclical rhythms of nature."
About Wei Lun Ha
Weilun Ha is a Vietnam-born Chinese New Zealander. He holds a Master’s of Architecture degree from the University of Auckland. His practice is based around his keen interest in eco-friendly issues and contemporary identity in Chinese ink paintings which is continually evolving and not easily reducible to definite categories.
Ha explores the ideas of personal stories in symbolic objects; diversity in cultural motifs; and gestures of fragility in life philosophies. The works complex interaction with Chinese porcelain patterns weaves historical references and significant moments behind his objects. The paintings embrace the richness of different cultures and create an intensity that is covered with interpretation and stories.
