Six massive bamboo lantern sculptures shaped like vases will light up Civic Center Plaza next week, in celebration of the Lunar New Year.
The temporary art installation, entitled "Peace All Year Round," was created by Hong Kong artist Freeman Lau. It's inspired by the experience of early Chinese immigrants to the West Coast.
The installation is being erected to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong special administrative region, when the United Kingdom transferred sovereignty of Hong Kong to China. It will be on display through March 10th.
The installation is a collaboration between Lau, the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), the Asian Art Museum and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, and is sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
The vases vary in size, but they're all large, ranging from 16 to 20 feet tall. According to the SFAC, they were chosen in part because the Chinese word for "vase" has the same sound as another Chinese word that means "safe and peaceful." The sculptures include the names of early Chinese immigrants to the West Coast.
The glowing sculptures aren't the first of their kind to appear in Civic Center Plaza. Last March, the space was taken over by a quintet of massive, inflatable glowing rabbits, an installation by Australian artist Amanda Parer meant to draw attention to environmental issues.
Installation of the lanterns began on January 24th, and should wrap up today. The lanterns will be lit at a public dedication ceremony on January 30th, remaining in place through March.
