Roaring and Soaring in the Year of the Water Tiger

This Chinese New Year we are roaring back in the Year of the Tiger. This year's Tiger is influenced by the water element which brings calm and clarity. Water Tigers are open-minded and have a passion for new ideas, experiences, and adventure, all of which encapsulate our newest partner, Alaska Airlines. We're excited to be roaring and soaring with them as we seek to explore new heights in the Year of the Tiger.

The Voyager blurs the relationship between nature and machines. The design features plum blossoms and bamboo, expressed in the traditional Chinese ink painting style. The bamboo symbolizes longevity and peace while the the plum blossoms, which are the first to bloom in the season, not only symbolize bravery and hope but the five petals represent peace, happiness, smoothness, longevity, and luck. The clouds on the back and legs of the tiger signify good omens. The printed circuit boards connect the natural meridians and blood vessels that form the main part of the tiger's body to represent travel and connection. The two large "chips" located in the heart and abdomen suggests the love of family.

Statue Details:

• Approximately 5.5' x 6' x 3'
• Weighs 150 pounds
• Made of high density foam and fiberglass

Shipping & Delivery:

• Base is not included.
• Additional shipping & handling fees apply. Insurance is available upon request.
• Payment must be received in full before making delivery arrangements. Please make check payable to SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce (730 Sacramento St. San Francisco, CA 94108)
• No returns, refunds, or exchanges.

Artist Bio: Yiyang (Vito) Deng

Yiyang (Vito) Deng was born in Wuhan, China. Both of his parents worked as basic art educators in Wuhan for many years. When Yiyang was in elementary school, he followed his parents and moved to China's new international city, Shenzhen. In this multicultural city, he studied photography and traditional Chinese ink painting with his father. He also began his formal art education in high school, during which he was exposed to and mastered drawing tools such as pencil, charcoal, gouache, acrylic, and oil, and built a strong foundation in art. This is Yiyang's third year of study at the California College of Arts.

Celebrating Time-Honored Traditions

To prepare for the New Year, families clean and decorate their homes with flowers, couplets, and colorful paper cut-outs. The designs of this form of Chinese folk art depict messages of good luck and blessings, flowers and plants, and meaningful symbols for the New Year. This year, AARP is proud to be honoring this long-time tradition with the work of renowned paper cutting artist, Yumei Hou.

Posterity is a smiling tigress, with the word "shou" on her head, which means longevity. The ears and eyes are cut with two longevity peaches to represent health and happiness. The zigzag pattern along her back represents a happy family reunion, the homophony of the word together. There is a little tiger on the tigress' belly, and a little tiger on the other side, because a tiger has two children in her lifetime, which signifies someone will succeed. Sunflowers on the chest represent hope and a bright future. The life peach on the inside of the tiger's leg means that everyone in the family is healthy and long-lived!

Statue Details:

• Approximately 5.5' x 6' x 3'
• Weighs 150 pounds
• Made of high density foam and fiberglass

Shipping & Delivery:

• Base is not included.
• Additional shipping & handling fees apply. Insurance is available upon request.
• Payment must be received in full before making delivery arrangements. Please make check payable to SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce (730 Sacramento St. San Francisco, CA 94108)
• No returns, refunds, or exchanges.

Artist Bio: Yumei Hou

Yumei Hou is a sculptor and renowned master of the ancient Chinese art of paper cutting. Her passion and skills for art were inherited through three generations of artists. Hou has dedicated decades to learning, perfecting, and passing on the art of paper cutting in China and the United States. Her talent and dedication were recognized by the San Francisco Arts Commission in 2010 when she was selected to design and install a building-wide art piece for the Chinatown Central Subway, scheduled to open in 2022.

A Tide of New Beginnings

The Lunar New Year is a celebration welcoming the coming of spring and new beginnings. As we bid farewell to the hardworking Ox, we take with us the wisdom it taught us as we look forward with a renewed sense of hope. Drawing from the Tiger's strength and courage, we will strive to grow and flourish together for a prosperous new year. Whole Foods Market captures this spirit of new beginnings in their Horizon Tiger.

The Horizon Tiger looks forth calm and confident. Its color is radiant from a warm, sunny glow in the head, to the calming blue towards its feet sends the message of springtime - light, beauty, harmony, and rebirth. The clear water is alive with goldfish and lotus flowers, both symbols of good luck and abundance in the Chinese tradition. The schools of fish also represent community and family. The tiger legs are decorated in the graphic depiction of waves found in both traditional and contemporary Chinese art and decor, signifying waves of prosperity.

Statue Details:

Approximately 5.5' x 6' x 3'

• Weighs 150 pounds
• Made of high density foam and fiberglass

Shipping & Delivery:

• Base is not included.
• Additional shipping & handling fees apply. Insurance is available upon request.
• Payment must be received in full before making delivery arrangements. Please make check payable to SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce (730 Sacramento St. San Francisco, CA 94108)
• No returns, refunds, or exchanges.

Artist Bio: Stephanie Mufson

Steph Mufson graduated with a BFA in Fine Arts in 2003 from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has spent more than 15 years in the arts and entertainment industries as an Artist, Designer, Fabricator, Float Builder, and occasional Entertainer working in California's beautiful Bay Area.

Specializing in bringing big ideas to life with attention to the smallest details, Steph loves to work in a variety of mediums and leads teams of skilled artisans to add high-impact visual elements to parades, events, and high-profile spaces for corporate and private clients throughout northern California and beyond.

Honoring Community and Tradition in the Bay

Millions of people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year, but no celebration is quite like the ones in the Bay Area. From Oakland to San Jose to our own SF Chinese New Year Festival & Parade, there are so many festivities in the Bay Area that honor this important holiday. Chinese New Year is about coming together with our family and friends, sharing old and new traditions, and greeting the new year with cheer. The Golden State Warriors are joining us to celebrate our latest tradition, Tiger on Parade, with their Good Fortune Tiger Statue.

Good Fortune Tiger features the Bay bridge to represent and celebrate the Asian-American community in and around the Bay Area, and the many traditions and festivities surrounding this important holiday. The Chinese-style clouds express good fortune, happiness and are harbingers of peace. Fireworks on the legs and the tiger's forehead ward off evil spirits and signify celebration and festivity. The Chinese calligraphy wishes you Good Luck and best wishes in 2022!

Statue Details:

• Approximately 5.5' x 6' x 3'
• Weighs 150 pounds
• Made of high density foam and fiberglass

Shipping & Delivery:

• Base is not included.
• Additional shipping & handling fees apply. Insurance is available upon request.
• Payment must be received in full before making delivery arrangements. Please make check payable to SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce (730 Sacramento St. San Francisco, CA 94108)
• No returns, refunds, or exchanges.

Artist Bio: Deyi (Robin) Zhao

Deyi (Robin) Zhao was born in Jilin, China, and came to the US when she was 9 years old. Her grandmother, Yumei Hou, worked as the main carver for the SF Chinese New Year statues and her father worked building floats. Robin grew up helping paint and decorate the floats and loved seeing all the objects for the floats come together piece-by-piece. This year, she enjoyed the opportunity to design and paint her own Tiger and is excited to see it as a public art piece displayed at Thrive City.

Being surrounded by both traditional art forms and new digital media, Robin has developed a keen eye for art and design. In addition to her years of working on Parade Floats. At the young age of 19, she has also taught various arts and crafts classes to children and adults, interned at YouTube, and is now in her second year of college at the California College of the Arts.

Harvesting Good Luck and Prosperity

According to Chinese legend, the Tiger was once considered the Guardian Spirit of Agriculture. Long ago, farmers would pray to the Tiger for a bountiful harvest to feed the village and their families. To ensure plenty of rain during the growing season, the farmers would pay respects to the Tiger so that it would scare off the drought demon. Priding themselves in celebrating California's spirit, identity, and flavors, Lucky California wanted to honor the Guardian Spirit of Agriculture with their Harvester Tiger.

The Harvester brings good luck and abundance to all who greet her. The design features the plum tree, a symbol of perseverance, strength, and bravery for the year of the Tiger. The tree is shown bearing auspicious "fruit." The golden ingot (yuan bao) and dumplings represent wealth, the fish represents abundance and prosperity, and candies represent wishes for a rich and sweet life. The depiction of a fruitful plum tree, represents new hope and endless possibilities. In the new year, the water tiger will bring plenty of rainfall to California to grow sufficient foods for everyone.

Statue Details:

Approximately 5.5' x 6' x 3'

• Weighs 150 pounds
• Made of high density foam and fiberglass
• Shipping & Delivery:

Base is not included.

• Additional shipping & handling fees apply. Insurance is available upon request.
• Payment must be received in full before making delivery arrangements. Please make check payable to SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce (730 Sacramento St. San Francisco, CA 94108)
• No returns, refunds, or exchanges.

Artist Bio: Deyi (Robin) Zhao

Deyi (Robin) Zhao was born in Jilin, China, and came to the US when she was 9 years old. Her grandmother, Yumei Hou, worked as the main carver for the SF Chinese New Year statues and her father worked building floats. Robin grew up helping paint and decorate the floats and loved seeing all the objects for the floats come together piece-by-piece. This year, she enjoyed the opportunity to design and paint her own Ox and is excited to see it as a public art piece displayed in the city.

Being surrounded by both traditional art forms and new digital media, Robin has developed a keen eye for art and design. In addition to her years of working on Parade Floats, at the young age of 19 she has also taught various arts and crafts classes to children and adults, interned at YouTube, and is now in her second year of college at the California College of the Arts.