20-Foot Tall Bamboo Lanterns Light Up SF | Civic Center Plaza

First it was massive glow-in-the-dark bunnies… now it’s giant LED bamboo lanterns.

From January to March, six large-scale illuminated sculptures by Hong Kong artist Freeman Lau will be on display as a temporary art installation in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza.

The 20-foot tall series of sculptures by Hong Kong artist Freeman Lau entitled Sui Sui Ping An – Peace All Year Round is scheduled to coincide with the Lunar New Year and commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Large-Scale Sculptures Will Light Up Civic Center Plaza
January 30 – March 10, 2017
Civic Center Plaza, SF
FREE

• Installation begins on January 24 and will take approximately 4 days.
• Dedication Ceremony and Lantern Lighting – January 30th at 4:30 pm.

Inspired by the experience of Chinese immigrants who settled on the West Coast, the artist will create six bamboo lanterns that take the form of vases of varying shapes. In Chinese, the sound of vase (花瓶 Hua Ping) is the same as safe and peaceful (平安 Ping An). The sculptures are adorned with vibrant colors and the names of early Chinese migrants who adopted transcription of their names in an effort to assimilate peacefully in their new home.

The sculptures range in height from 16 to 20 feet and will be sited in the center of Civic Center Plaza. The Asian Art Museum will host a 3-foot sculpture to echo the larger installation.

The installation will commence on January 24 and take approximately 4 days. Segments of the lanterns will be built in advance by traditional craftsmen in Hong Kong and assembled onsite for the public to observe the work in progress. Each sculpture will be illuminated by LED lighting.

Read more at sfartscommission.org