Lunar New Year Mural telling stories of emerging Artists in Western Sydney

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Two Western Sydney-based artists have collaborated on a mural at Bankstown Arts Centre, to wish Bankstown locals good luck and prosperity during Lunar New Year.

The exquisite Lunar New Year mural titled Ten Years, was created as a collaboration between muralist, Christina Huynh, and fellow artist and animator, Chris Yee.

Huynh fondly recalls seeing her first mural in the Inner West, sparking her interest to create more murals to colour the streets of Western Sydney.

“That was a long time ago… Western Sydney has definitely seen more and more murals popping up which is really exciting,” Huynh said.

“It’s so important that murals are visible to the younger generation, so that they might be inspired to express themselves through art.”

Ten Years is located at the back of Bankstown Arts Centre and can be seen from the hundreds of passing trains every day. It is also lit at night, creating an exquisite experience for passing travellers.

The mural represents the coming together of two Asian-Australian artists through two Chinese mythical creatures that meet in the middle.

“I put together the character that’s pretty iconic in Chinese culture, a mythical creature that is supposed to bring about prosperity and good luck,” Huynh said.

“The focal point is the string which represents Bankstown Arts Centre having been established for ten years as a wonderful cultural hub for our community and artists.”

You can view the incredible mural at Bankstown Arts Centre, along with the latest exhibition, Cultural Cartography: Creating Art at the Intersection of Cultures.

With a line-up of five Asian-Australian Artists: NC Qin, Chris Yee, Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen, Christina Huynh and Anney Bounpraseuth, the exhibition adds to the conversation of Asian-Australian cultural identities in contemporary society.

“It’s really nice to be a part of a group that shares the experiences of what it’s like to be an artist in this day and age but also to be a person of colour trying to navigate through this world,” Huynh said.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said he is proud to see locals express and celebrate their cultural identity through art.

“I encourage everyone to go down to the Bankstown Arts Centre and experience the different perspectives of Asian-Australian culture that the five artists colour,” Mayor Asfour said.

“And what a perfect time to observe and learn about these cultures, during Lunar New Year!”

The Cultural Cartography exhibition is in partnership with Western Sydney Universities Institute Australian and Chinese Arts and Culture.

You can view the exhibition online and at Bankstown Arts Centre from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm, until 20 February.

For more information, visit cb.city/CulturalCartography