Passage of Night; Luminary Rising

Passage of Night; Luminary Rising examines the significance of the moon and how it is reflected across cultures. Often an object of wonder and contemplation, the moon is a unifying force that brings communities together. Storytelling, celebration and ritual are enacted by most cultures under its light. For most, the moon is a mythical entity that lends itself to the creation of symbolic meanings that support the human explanation of life, and in many cases, the after-life and otherworldliness.

This exhibition explores diverse historical, cultural and religious relationships to the moon, extending the Lunar New Year celebration to other cultures. Its mutable and transformational nature has made the moon a source of mystery, interpreted as a deity, a planet, a calendar and a timekeeper. Through the mediums of drawing, installation, sculpture and video animation, this group of artists share stories across cultures, with the universality of the moon at its centre.

A Willoughby City Council exhibition co-curated by Cassandra Hard Lawrie and Rachael Kiang.

Artists: Frankie Chow, Maryanne Coutts, Carmen Glynn-Braun, Emma Hicks, Karen Lee, Lindy Lee, Pamela Leung, Lawrence Liang and Jordan Ritchie, Miho Watanabe and Meng-Yu Yan

Image: Maryanne Coutts, August Moon, 2022, animation still from animated ink drawing

Passage of Night; Luminary Rising is part of Chatswood Year of the Dragon Festival, the North Shore’s premier Lunar New Year celebrations presented by Willoughby City Council.