Togetherness and Joy by Yonny Tse

Look up from the streets of the city centre and spot the vibrant artworks of Asian-Australian artists on street banners to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

The Lunar New Year celebrates joy, abundance, and reunion – a time when families gather, honour traditions and share hopes for the year ahead.

This illustrated banner series follows Mr and Mrs Ma, the symbolic Horse couple, as they grow from a loving pair into a thriving family. Through scenes of gifting red envelopes, preparing festive treats and journeying home, each banner captures moments of affection, heritage and renewal.

Beyond cultural celebration, the Ma family’s story mirrors the universal migration experience – arriving in a new land, building roots and flourishing together. Their journey becomes a visual metaphor for resilience, gratitude and community spirit.

Blending warmth and symbolism, the series reflects both the intimacy of family bonds and the shared optimism of the Lunar New Year, ending with a heartfelt wish for happiness, harmony and the enduring joy of togetherness in the year to come.

About the artist

Yonny Tse is a freelance illustrator with over 15 years’ experience in illustration and design. Her work blends traditional formats such as watercolour, pastel and acrylic with digital media. Yonny creates stylised illustrations for exhibitions, books, magazines, and calendars, often exploring emotional themes, women's issues, relationships, and food.

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