In celebration of Lunar New Year – the year of the rabbit – Aria Property Group have commissioned Ruth Cho to create a temporary public artwork in the Fish Lane Precinct.
Activating the South-Brisbane laneway is ‘Pest from the West’, which draws inspiration from the rabbit as an animal that holds high cultural significance in many East-Asian countries. Specifically, it is a recurring motif in Chinese art and culture that symbolises vitality, creativity and longevity.
In contrast, the rabbit with its colonial history as sport for hunting, is deemed a pest in Australia with emphasis placed on its destructive impact. The mural celebrates the rabbit and highlights its resilience as it continues to survive and thrive in a hostile environment. The way we interact with animals can be indicative of our relationship with nature. Rather to see animals as living creatures independent of our existence than to objectify and condemn them. “I aim to change our view of the animal and inspire us to be more resilient and adaptable like the rabbit.”
Image: “Pest from the West” 2023, linocut print rendered vinyl, courtesy the artist and Onespace.
