STORY: Chinese-Australian artist's Spring Festival designs give traditional Chinese culture a modern twist
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 29, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 30, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:25
LOCATION: SYDNEY, Australia
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Sydney
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHRISSY LAU, Sydney-based artist and illustrator
3. various of Australia Post's Lunar New Year stamps
4. various of "Lucky 8 Snakes" decorations on Sydney's central light rail
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHRISSY LAU, Sydney-based artist and illustrator

STORYLINE:

Sydney-based artist and illustrator Chrissy Lau has designed the Australia Post's Lunar New Year stamps for the fifth consecutive year.  

She said that her work was inspired by her Chinese heritage.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHRISSY LAU, Sydney-based artist and illustrator
"I think it's a good connection between my upbringing in the West and also my cultural background of being Chinese.
This year marks my fifth anniversary designing Australia Post's Lunar New Year stamps, and I've loved having the opportunity to share a piece of my heritage. The illustrations for the Year of the Snake blend traditional Chinese culture with a modern twist.
I take inspiration from my experience growing up as a British-born Chinese takeaway kid and my life as an Australian-Chinese."

This year, Lau also created the "Lucky 8 Snakes" design covering one of Sydney's central light rail trams. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHRISSY LAU, Sydney-based artist and illustrator
"The colors are really colorful to represent all the cultures that celebrate the lunar new year. It's also decorated with a lot of ingots and gold coins to celebrate the wealth and prosperity of the lunar new year. It's a wonderful piece that I hope will bring a lot of joy to the passengers in Sydney."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sydney, Australia. 
(XHTV)