Lunar New Year 2023
Year of the Cat - Quý Mão🐱🧧
While our other Asian counterparts celebrate the year of the Rabbit, we Vietnamese celebrate the year of the Cat 🐈. These illustrations not only captured the cat’s playful spirits but also imbued traditional Vietnamese Tết (LNY) holiday's elements.
The year of the Cat was extra special to me because not only that I’m a cat mum, but also because it is the first LNY I got to spend with my family ever since the pandemic. Whenever I think of Tet, I think of joy and happiness, and I wanted to convey that through these illustrations, taking all the Viet kids down the memory lane: the sweet smell of candied coconut ribbons, the fresh scent of beautiful apricot flowers blooming just a few days before new year, or the iconic table full of delicious traditional food. But of course we can’t forget our main star, as we see a playful cat in virtually every illustrations, always up to no good, doing the most cat thing possible.
I wanted to include a lot of traditional Vietnamese elements and activities in the illustrations as much as possible. Below are images taken of Viet LNY activities and tradition food.
Research:
Trying to capture the sense of playfulness of cats and also doing my best to incorporate the authenticity of tradition Vietnamese traditions during Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is a colorful and vibrant celebration that takes place in a few Asian countries known to be as different names, but in Vietnam it is known as Tet. While most countries share a certain extend of similarities in the way they celebrate LNY, each country has a set of unique traditions that they do and Vietnam isn’t the exception either.
Initial concept:
Below is a visual moodboard describing LNY festivities and other traditional Vietnam customs that had inspired my illustrations.
Inspo/moodboard:
Ðông Hồ painting is a Vietnamese folk painting originating in Đông Hồ village that dated back to the 11th century. These paintings are mainly bought and displayed on the occasion of Tết (LNY), contents are often humorous and optimistic with bright and powerful colours such as red, yellow, and white.
Traditional stable Vietnamese snacks that is always present in every household during LNY. Mostly consist of: coconut flakes, roasted watermelon seeds, dried sugared ginger slices, and nuts.
My 4th illustration was heavily inspired by this particular Vietnamese tradition called Vinh Quy Bái Tổ. It is a traditional custom in Vietnam dated back to the 11th century, is often carried out when an accomplished noble man from the King's court, travel back to his hometown to pay tribute his ancestors.
Lotus root - one of the delicacies that is only served during LNY. Lotus flower is a national symbol of Vietnam, it symbolizes purity, commitment and optimism for the future.
The Imperial City is a walled enclosure within the citadel of the city of Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam during the Nguyễn dynasty. It contains the palaces that housed the imperial family, as well as shrines, gardens, and villas for mandarins.
A traditional old house in rural of North Vietnam during the LNY celebration.
Pandemic sanity
I was furloughed for a few months during the beginning of the pandemic so I picked up Procreate and started to illustrate all while trying to keep my sanity intact during the everlasting lockdown. It was hard to remain positive, but somehow your mind can take you to the happiest place on earth where it’s all vibrant colours and ice cream and delicious comfort food.
