A 25-Metre Gold Snake Art Installation Has Slithered Into Brisbane
How's the serenity?
Brisbane Quarter, Brisbane’s most stylish dining and cultural precinct, is marking the Year of the Snake with local artist Elysha Rei’s latest installation.
Embrace the serenity this year with Elysha’s artwork, 静寂 (Seijaku): Serenity, a 25-metre paper snake installation symbolising the zodiac motif for wisdom, charm, and creativity. Twisting between levels down to Podium 1 of Brisbane Quarter the delicate artwork captures visitors’ attention with its shimmering gold hue and sweeping size.
About the artist
Elysha Rei (pronounced eh-lee-sha ray) is a Japanese-Australian artist who explores narratives of cultural identity, site-specific history, and environmental elements through paper cutting and public art. She predominantly hand-cuts her works from single sheets of paper and entwines her research, references, and symbolism into each specific cut. This installation is her largest work to date in her 20 years of practice.
The installation
The Wood Snake zodiac symbolises wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. The gold serpent installation represents the renewal of the Lunar New Year horoscope of the snake.
“Seijaku,” a Japanese phrase meaning serenity or stillness, evokes the tranquil beauty of the snake at rest, embodying transformation in stillness and inviting the viewer to take a moment to contemplate the year ahead,” Elysha said. “I hope this installation will invite viewers to embrace a moment of contemplation as they scale their eyes over the details of the serpent, thinking about the transformation of their year ahead.”
静寂 (Seijaku): Serenity is on display from 24 January to 27 April 2025. Be sure to stop by Brisbane Quarter on your next city commute and embrace the serenity for 2025 with this stunning installation!
