Pockets of Prosperity, Yee Sang & Longevity Noodles Kim Siew

Look up at our street banners and you might see the Sydney Lunar Festival banner galleries celebrating the Year of the Snake.

Kim Siew’s artwork ‘Pockets of Prosperity, Yee Sang and Longevity Noodles’ depicts the snake alongside 3 foods typically served during the Lunar New Year: dumplings, yee sang salad and noodles. Dumplings are little pockets of prosperity, yee sang is tossed together with loved ones to bring in good fortune and noodles symbolise longevity.

The inclusion of the yee sang salad is particular to the artist’s Malay-Chinese heritage. Only served at Lunar New Year, its ingredients symbolise longevity, prosperity, health and family. The salad is prepared with the ingredients separated. Everyone at the table tosses the ingredients together with their chopsticks, tossing up good fortune. The fortune is shared with everyone at the table: the higher the toss, the higher the fortune.

Snakes are the most intuitive of the zodiac signs and tend to form deep bonds in their relationships. Representing the snake as part of the dishes emphasises the bonds formed when sharing these auspicious meals during Lunar New Year.

About the artist:

Employing a bold colour palette, Kim enlivens public spaces with the narratives of the people who live there, promoting placemaking through art.

Kim has worked extensively with commercial clients, community groups and councils including Sydney Opera House, Thames & Hudson, Burwood City Council, Women and Girl’s Refuge Centre (WAGEC) and Inner West Council.

Download the Sydney Culture Walks app to see the locations of all lanterns, artwork installations, banner galleries and more in the Lunar Walk.