Preamble
For your convenience I have listed below the annual reviews that span the life of this blogspot.
It's Been An Exciting Year (2010/2011)
Another Cheer - Another Year (2011/2012)
Where Did The Year Go? (2012/2013)
The Year of the Horse (2013/2014)
Cold and Windy - But on the Dawn of Renewal (2014/2015)
A Time To Reflect - A Time To Select (2015/2016)
A Time to Remember (2016/2017)
To Be or Not to Be (2017/2018)
The Night Too Quickly Passes (2018/2019)
The Year of Living Dangerously (2019/2020)
Attempt The Impossible Since Failure Will Still Be Your Success (2020/2021)
A Year of Climate Extremes (2021/2022)
I Love A Sunburnt Country (2022/2023)
Australian Rules (2023/2024)
Year of the Snake
Introduction
Everybody is aware of the Chinese horoscope. So it is not surprising for people to search the internet at the beginning of the year, to try to discover what the year will hold for them. This year is the "Year of the Snake."
Then of course there is an additional refinement in that you might be a "Fire Snake," "Earth Snake," "Gold Snake," "Water Snake," or "Wood Snake," depending on which snake year you were born. For example, if you were born February 2, 1965 – January 20, 1966, then you are a "Wood Snake."
The Chinese New Year starts from January 29, 2025, that marks the start of the "Year of the Wood Snake"" in 2025. In the Chinese Zodiac, the "Snake" is linked to metamorphosis, wisdom, and intuition. The "Snake" year is characterized by introspection, mystery, and intelligence. Considering the great transformation, we are all subject to now that is Trump inspired, it is appropriate to shed the old “skin” and create a new one, like the snake.
What is perhaps not appreciated in the Western World is that the Chinese Zodiac is just one of a handful of Zodiacs that are celebrated in different regions of the world. For example, the Vietnamese Zodiac is utilized for naming lunar years, and so holds a crucial role in traditional Vietnamese culture.
The Vietnamese Zodiac animals are sacred to the Vietnamese people.
The Vietnamese Lunar New Year animals hold great cultural significance.
Throughout history, while the Western world adopted the Zodiac with 12 signs, Eastern cultures, particularly Vietnam, embraced 12 animals as a crucial timekeeping system. The question of their origin remains a subject of diverse perspectives. Many attribute the origin of the 12 Zodiac animals to Chinese traditions. However, an intriguing perspective emerges from a study of the ancient Vietnamese language by researcher Nguyen Cung Thong, who suggests that Vietnam may be the birthplace of the 12 Zodiac animals. With over 2,000 years of cultural interplay and a lack of conclusive evidence, uncovering the true origin of the 12 Zodiac animals presents a considerable challenge to cultural researchers. While the origin of the Vietnamese New Year Zodiac remains unclear, the order of animals in the 12 Zodiac signs is notably consistent across various Asian countries. They include the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Each animal in the Vietnamese zodiac system is given a distinct name. They are Tý (Rat), Sửu (Ox), Dần (Tiger), Mão (Cat), Thìn (Dragon), Tỵ (Snake), Ngọ (Horse), Mùi (Goat), Thân (Monkey), Dậu (Rooster), Tuất (Dog), and Hợi (Pig). These Vietnamese New Year animals play a role in predicting the future, assessing personality traits, and evaluating relationship compatibility.
Each Vietnamese zodiac year appears in a 12-year cycle, creating a recurring pattern. Each year corresponds to a specific zodiac animal. Based on the year of birth according to the lunar calendar, Vietnamese astrology utilizes the associated animal to provide insights into individuals and their lives. They influence various aspects of life, including the names of children and the optimal times for significant activities.
The Vietnamese horoscope mimics the Chinese horoscope and so this year is also the Year of the Snake, symbol of wisdom and intuition. The Snake is considered a sacred creature. Those born in the Year of the Snake are wise but reserved in speech. Symbolizing the succession of generations, individuals of this sign are characterized by calmness, gentleness, depth, and occasional bursts of anger. They are also resolute and persistent.
Vietnamese Horoscope Grouping.
In summary, the characteristics of the Vietnamese horoscope can be depicted as follows:
Rat - an animal for resourcefulness.
The Rat is characterized by its resourcefulness. Despite their proactive and dynamic nature, they often encounter many obstacles in life. Those born in the Year of the Mouse are often sensitive to financial matters, as the presence of a mouse often implies an abundance of rice in the granary.
Ox - a symbol of strength and determination.
The Ox represents hard work and patience. It also serves as a symbol of spring and agriculture. Those born in the Year of the Ox often exhibit enduring strength and strong leadership, making them well-suited for scientific pursuits. They are calm, kind, and highly determined but may also be quite stubborn.
Tiger - representing bravery and power.
The Tiger is one of the holy Vietnamese animals, where it is considered the king of the forest. People born in the Year of the Tiger are brave, smart, and risk-seeking. They are expected to do extraordinary things and become extremely successful in life. However, as strength often draws unwanted attention, some may face challenges due to social biases.
Cat - an emblem of independence and adaptability.
In Vietnam, the Cat is revered in the zodiac, while China and other nations celebrate the Rabbit. This difference is due to the crucial role of cats in catching mice to protect the harvest in Vietnam's rice culture. Those born in the Year of the Cat are often articulate, talented, ambitious, and successful academically. They may clash with those born in the Year of the Mouse.
Dragon - a mythical creature of power and luck.
In the legends of the East, the dragon stands as a symbol of royal authority, signifying the prosperity of the nation. Those born in the Year of the Dragon are characterized by honesty and dynamism, yet they can also be hot-tempered and stubborn. They embody symbols of power and wealth.
Snake - a symbol of wisdom and intuition.
In Vietnamese culture, the Snake is considered a sacred creature. Those born in the Year of the Snake are wise but reserved in speech. Symbolizing the succession of generations, individuals of this sign are characterized by calmness, gentleness, depth, and occasional bursts of anger. They are also resolute and persistent.
Horse - signifying freedom and vitality.
People born in the Year of the Horse are often gentle, easy-going, and open-minded, although they can be quite stubborn. They are also often straightforward and quite temperamental. The speed of a horse is reminiscent of the sun shining daily. Therefore, this sign is often associated with good health.
Goat - a Vietnamese New Year animal of kindness.
Individuals born in the Year of the Goat are typically serene and humble but reserved. They may speak awkwardly, making them less adept at sales activities, but their natural compassion and willingness to assist those in need are notable. Their inherent kindness often works to their advantage.
Monkey - an emblem of cleverness and playfulness.
Monkeys are known for their lively, playful nature, and high level of intelligence. Individuals born in the Year of the Monkey are often exceptionally talented with distinctive personalities. They are typically cheerful, resourceful, curious, and full of innovative ideas. Their weaknesses lie in their unpredictable and inconsistent temperaments.
Rooster - an animal for confidence and resilience.
The Year of the Rooster represents a phase of hardworking activity, as roosters are known for their busy schedules from dawn to dusk. Their distinctive comb is a symbol of remarkable intelligence and scholarly wisdom. Those born in the Year of the Rooster are recognized for their deep-thinking abilities. They often sustain themselves through diligent small business endeavors, working persistently like "a rooster digging the ground to find worms."
Some notables who were born in the Year of the Snake are: Ben Stiller, Pierce Brosnan, Oprah Winfrey, Bob Dylan, Charlie Sheen and Carole King - to name a few.
Carole King is an American composer and singer-songwriter. She is the most successful female songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century in the USA having written or co-written 118 pop hits on the American Billboard between 1955 and 1999. King also wrote 61 hits that charted in the UK, making her the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts between 1952 and 2005.
Year of the Snake
The number of categories on this blogspot keeps growing. They are as follows: (i) ArtCloth, Art Quilts, Textile Art; (ii) Art Essays; (iii) Art Exhibitions/Installations/Talks; (iv) Artist's Profiles; (v) Art Resources; (vi) Art Reviews; (vii) Book Reviews/Interviews; (viii) Craft and Quilt Fairs; (ix) Fabric Lengths; (x) Glossaries; (xi) Guest Artists/Authors/Creatives/Guest Editors; (xii) Opinion Pieces; (xiii) Prints on Paper; (xiv) Resource Reviews; (xv) Technical Articles; (xvi) Wearable Art; (xvii) Workshops and Master Classes (i.e. my students outputs).
Note: Not all of these categories are present in any given year. For example, this season there were no Book Reviews/Interviews, or for that matter, Guest Artists/Author/Creatives, Guest Editors, Fabric Lengths, or Opinion Pieces. Futhermore, there were no new Glossaries, although several of the Glossaries were substantially increased in content (e.g., click on the following link - Glossary of Art, Artists, Art Motifs and Art Movements - to view the increase in its content.
I do realize that judging a post by a single criterion, namely, the most number of viewers, is not necessarily the smartest approach, since the length of stay of a viewer on that post might negate the former statistic. How often have you heard yourself say - 'Oops I really didn't mean to google this site when I googled "snake" and it landed on not the animal, but on a man's boxer shorts.' Within a second I was gone. Nevertheless, this one statistic makes it easier for me to make a judgement about which posts were popular, and so it will be used as the final arbitrator, except in the case when two posts differ by less than two viewers in total. Then I will decree that both are joint winners!
Note: Within each category we are only talking about differences in number of views, rather than the absolute number of views.
ArtCloth, Art Quilts, Textile Art
There were thirteen posts in this category in the 2024/2025 season, which is the most posts in any other category. The two that got the largest number of page views were: Yoruba and Baulé Warp Ikat and Nigerian Starch-Resist (by hand), with the former having twenty-two more page views and so is the winner of this category.
Baulé man's cloth.
Art Essays
There were nine posts in this category in 2024/2025 with the two posts that received the largest numbers of page views were published just one month apart, namely, A Brief History of Batik and Katazome (Stencil Dyeing) - Part I with the latter having three more page views.
Making a stencil of a flower design.
Art Exhibitions/Installations/Talks
There were two posts in this category in 2024/2025. The two posts that received the largest number of page views were published within a fortnight of each other and they were: Melbourne Now - Part VI [1] and Melbourne Now - Part VII with the former having fifteen more page views.
Artist and Title (Date): Byran Spier, Untitled (2012).
Artist(s) Profile
There were two posts in this category in 2024/2025 season, namely, Senyor Pablo and Christopher Baudouin with the the latter having twenty more page views and so is the winner in this category.
Dated: 1707.
Art Resources
The Art Resources posts are generally the first post in any given month and so they tend to numerically dominate the number of page views of the published posts in any given year. Hence there were twelve published posts in this category in the 2024/2025 season. It is surprising that the two most viewed posts in this category were four months apart, namely, Properties of Pigments in Common Use and Green Pigments - Part I and that both were only viewer one apart and so I declare them joint winners in this category.
Properties of Pigments in Common Use.
Shades of Green.
Prints on Paper
There were five Prints on Paper posts in 2024/2025 with the two most viewed being only one month apart and they were: Street Graphics of Tokyo - Part II and Intaglio Prints Created Using Solarplates[1] - Part IV with the latter having nine more page views.
Creator: Janet Ayliffe.
Title: Kangarilla (1998).
Print: Single exposure two-plate intaglio print.
Size: 21 x 11.5 in (53.5 x 29 cm).
Wearable Art
There were four posts in this category in 2024/2025, with the two most viewed posts featuring the designs of Gianni Versace, namely, Gianni Versace - The Dream and Gianni Versace - Menswear, with the former having fifteen more page views.
Description: Sleeveless evening dress with panniers and oversized stole. Spring-Summer Collection (1988).
Material: Black-and white filigree-printed silk.
Courtesy: Gianni Versace Archives.
Workshops and Master Classes (i.e. my students outputs)
Title: "Image Dreamings: Basic Silk Screen Printing on Cloth Workshop."
The two day workshop - "Image Dreamings: Basic Silk Screen Printing on Cloth" - was organized by Amanda Donohue, the workshop co-ordinator for the Newcastle Printmakers Workshop Inc., Adamstown, Newcastle, Australia. It was held at the Newcastle Printmakers Workshop premises at 27 Popran Road, Adamstown, Newcastle, on the 29th & 30th March 2025. It was an honor to be invited to tutor this workshop to such an enthusiastic and hard-working group of participants.
Group photograph of workshop attendees.
From Left to Right: Josephine Bateman, Jann Barton, Mardi Ryan, Alison Winn, Wendy Nutt, and Jennifer Wood.
The output of all my students were spectacular. I won't highlight their outputs since it would take up too much space in this yearly review. However, please click on the following link to see their output - Workshop Outputs
I hope you have enjoyed this review of the yearly posts between August of 2024 to August of 2025 in the "Year of the Snake."
Reference:
[1] https://vinpearl.com/en/vietnamese-new-year-animals-12-signs-their-symbolism.
For your convenience I have listed below the annual reviews that span the life of this blogspot.
It's Been An Exciting Year (2010/2011)
Another Cheer - Another Year (2011/2012)
Where Did The Year Go? (2012/2013)
The Year of the Horse (2013/2014)
Cold and Windy - But on the Dawn of Renewal (2014/2015)
A Time To Reflect - A Time To Select (2015/2016)
A Time to Remember (2016/2017)
To Be or Not to Be (2017/2018)
The Night Too Quickly Passes (2018/2019)
The Year of Living Dangerously (2019/2020)
Attempt The Impossible Since Failure Will Still Be Your Success (2020/2021)
A Year of Climate Extremes (2021/2022)
I Love A Sunburnt Country (2022/2023)
Australian Rules (2023/2024)
Year of the Snake
Introduction
Everybody is aware of the Chinese horoscope. So it is not surprising for people to search the internet at the beginning of the year, to try to discover what the year will hold for them. This year is the "Year of the Snake."
Then of course there is an additional refinement in that you might be a "Fire Snake," "Earth Snake," "Gold Snake," "Water Snake," or "Wood Snake," depending on which snake year you were born. For example, if you were born February 2, 1965 – January 20, 1966, then you are a "Wood Snake."
What is perhaps not appreciated in the Western World is that the Chinese Zodiac is just one of a handful of Zodiacs that are celebrated in different regions of the world. For example, the Vietnamese Zodiac is utilized for naming lunar years, and so holds a crucial role in traditional Vietnamese culture.
Throughout history, while the Western world adopted the Zodiac with 12 signs, Eastern cultures, particularly Vietnam, embraced 12 animals as a crucial timekeeping system. The question of their origin remains a subject of diverse perspectives. Many attribute the origin of the 12 Zodiac animals to Chinese traditions. However, an intriguing perspective emerges from a study of the ancient Vietnamese language by researcher Nguyen Cung Thong, who suggests that Vietnam may be the birthplace of the 12 Zodiac animals. With over 2,000 years of cultural interplay and a lack of conclusive evidence, uncovering the true origin of the 12 Zodiac animals presents a considerable challenge to cultural researchers. While the origin of the Vietnamese New Year Zodiac remains unclear, the order of animals in the 12 Zodiac signs is notably consistent across various Asian countries. They include the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Each animal in the Vietnamese zodiac system is given a distinct name. They are Tý (Rat), Sửu (Ox), Dần (Tiger), Mão (Cat), Thìn (Dragon), Tỵ (Snake), Ngọ (Horse), Mùi (Goat), Thân (Monkey), Dậu (Rooster), Tuất (Dog), and Hợi (Pig). These Vietnamese New Year animals play a role in predicting the future, assessing personality traits, and evaluating relationship compatibility.
Each Vietnamese zodiac year appears in a 12-year cycle, creating a recurring pattern. Each year corresponds to a specific zodiac animal. Based on the year of birth according to the lunar calendar, Vietnamese astrology utilizes the associated animal to provide insights into individuals and their lives. They influence various aspects of life, including the names of children and the optimal times for significant activities.
The Vietnamese horoscope mimics the Chinese horoscope and so this year is also the Year of the Snake, symbol of wisdom and intuition. The Snake is considered a sacred creature. Those born in the Year of the Snake are wise but reserved in speech. Symbolizing the succession of generations, individuals of this sign are characterized by calmness, gentleness, depth, and occasional bursts of anger. They are also resolute and persistent.
Vietnamese Horoscope Grouping.
In summary, the characteristics of the Vietnamese horoscope can be depicted as follows:
Rat - an animal for resourcefulness.
The Rat is characterized by its resourcefulness. Despite their proactive and dynamic nature, they often encounter many obstacles in life. Those born in the Year of the Mouse are often sensitive to financial matters, as the presence of a mouse often implies an abundance of rice in the granary.
Ox - a symbol of strength and determination.
The Ox represents hard work and patience. It also serves as a symbol of spring and agriculture. Those born in the Year of the Ox often exhibit enduring strength and strong leadership, making them well-suited for scientific pursuits. They are calm, kind, and highly determined but may also be quite stubborn.
Tiger - representing bravery and power.
The Tiger is one of the holy Vietnamese animals, where it is considered the king of the forest. People born in the Year of the Tiger are brave, smart, and risk-seeking. They are expected to do extraordinary things and become extremely successful in life. However, as strength often draws unwanted attention, some may face challenges due to social biases.
Cat - an emblem of independence and adaptability.
In Vietnam, the Cat is revered in the zodiac, while China and other nations celebrate the Rabbit. This difference is due to the crucial role of cats in catching mice to protect the harvest in Vietnam's rice culture. Those born in the Year of the Cat are often articulate, talented, ambitious, and successful academically. They may clash with those born in the Year of the Mouse.
Dragon - a mythical creature of power and luck.
In the legends of the East, the dragon stands as a symbol of royal authority, signifying the prosperity of the nation. Those born in the Year of the Dragon are characterized by honesty and dynamism, yet they can also be hot-tempered and stubborn. They embody symbols of power and wealth.
Snake - a symbol of wisdom and intuition.
In Vietnamese culture, the Snake is considered a sacred creature. Those born in the Year of the Snake are wise but reserved in speech. Symbolizing the succession of generations, individuals of this sign are characterized by calmness, gentleness, depth, and occasional bursts of anger. They are also resolute and persistent.
Horse - signifying freedom and vitality.
People born in the Year of the Horse are often gentle, easy-going, and open-minded, although they can be quite stubborn. They are also often straightforward and quite temperamental. The speed of a horse is reminiscent of the sun shining daily. Therefore, this sign is often associated with good health.
Goat - a Vietnamese New Year animal of kindness.
Individuals born in the Year of the Goat are typically serene and humble but reserved. They may speak awkwardly, making them less adept at sales activities, but their natural compassion and willingness to assist those in need are notable. Their inherent kindness often works to their advantage.
Monkey - an emblem of cleverness and playfulness.
Monkeys are known for their lively, playful nature, and high level of intelligence. Individuals born in the Year of the Monkey are often exceptionally talented with distinctive personalities. They are typically cheerful, resourceful, curious, and full of innovative ideas. Their weaknesses lie in their unpredictable and inconsistent temperaments.
Rooster - an animal for confidence and resilience.
The Year of the Rooster represents a phase of hardworking activity, as roosters are known for their busy schedules from dawn to dusk. Their distinctive comb is a symbol of remarkable intelligence and scholarly wisdom. Those born in the Year of the Rooster are recognized for their deep-thinking abilities. They often sustain themselves through diligent small business endeavors, working persistently like "a rooster digging the ground to find worms."
Some notables who were born in the Year of the Snake are: Ben Stiller, Pierce Brosnan, Oprah Winfrey, Bob Dylan, Charlie Sheen and Carole King - to name a few.
Year of the Snake
The number of categories on this blogspot keeps growing. They are as follows: (i) ArtCloth, Art Quilts, Textile Art; (ii) Art Essays; (iii) Art Exhibitions/Installations/Talks; (iv) Artist's Profiles; (v) Art Resources; (vi) Art Reviews; (vii) Book Reviews/Interviews; (viii) Craft and Quilt Fairs; (ix) Fabric Lengths; (x) Glossaries; (xi) Guest Artists/Authors/Creatives/Guest Editors; (xii) Opinion Pieces; (xiii) Prints on Paper; (xiv) Resource Reviews; (xv) Technical Articles; (xvi) Wearable Art; (xvii) Workshops and Master Classes (i.e. my students outputs).
Note: Not all of these categories are present in any given year. For example, this season there were no Book Reviews/Interviews, or for that matter, Guest Artists/Author/Creatives, Guest Editors, Fabric Lengths, or Opinion Pieces. Futhermore, there were no new Glossaries, although several of the Glossaries were substantially increased in content (e.g., click on the following link - Glossary of Art, Artists, Art Motifs and Art Movements - to view the increase in its content.
I do realize that judging a post by a single criterion, namely, the most number of viewers, is not necessarily the smartest approach, since the length of stay of a viewer on that post might negate the former statistic. How often have you heard yourself say - 'Oops I really didn't mean to google this site when I googled "snake" and it landed on not the animal, but on a man's boxer shorts.' Within a second I was gone. Nevertheless, this one statistic makes it easier for me to make a judgement about which posts were popular, and so it will be used as the final arbitrator, except in the case when two posts differ by less than two viewers in total. Then I will decree that both are joint winners!
Note: Within each category we are only talking about differences in number of views, rather than the absolute number of views.
ArtCloth, Art Quilts, Textile Art
There were thirteen posts in this category in the 2024/2025 season, which is the most posts in any other category. The two that got the largest number of page views were: Yoruba and Baulé Warp Ikat and Nigerian Starch-Resist (by hand), with the former having twenty-two more page views and so is the winner of this category.
Art Essays
There were nine posts in this category in 2024/2025 with the two posts that received the largest numbers of page views were published just one month apart, namely, A Brief History of Batik and Katazome (Stencil Dyeing) - Part I with the latter having three more page views.
Art Exhibitions/Installations/Talks
There were two posts in this category in 2024/2025. The two posts that received the largest number of page views were published within a fortnight of each other and they were: Melbourne Now - Part VI [1] and Melbourne Now - Part VII with the former having fifteen more page views.
Artist(s) Profile
There were two posts in this category in 2024/2025 season, namely, Senyor Pablo and Christopher Baudouin with the the latter having twenty more page views and so is the winner in this category.
Art Resources
The Art Resources posts are generally the first post in any given month and so they tend to numerically dominate the number of page views of the published posts in any given year. Hence there were twelve published posts in this category in the 2024/2025 season. It is surprising that the two most viewed posts in this category were four months apart, namely, Properties of Pigments in Common Use and Green Pigments - Part I and that both were only viewer one apart and so I declare them joint winners in this category.
Prints on Paper
There were five Prints on Paper posts in 2024/2025 with the two most viewed being only one month apart and they were: Street Graphics of Tokyo - Part II and Intaglio Prints Created Using Solarplates[1] - Part IV with the latter having nine more page views.
Title: Kangarilla (1998).
Print: Single exposure two-plate intaglio print.
Size: 21 x 11.5 in (53.5 x 29 cm).
Wearable Art
There were four posts in this category in 2024/2025, with the two most viewed posts featuring the designs of Gianni Versace, namely, Gianni Versace - The Dream and Gianni Versace - Menswear, with the former having fifteen more page views.
Material: Black-and white filigree-printed silk.
Courtesy: Gianni Versace Archives.
Workshops and Master Classes (i.e. my students outputs)
Title: "Image Dreamings: Basic Silk Screen Printing on Cloth Workshop."
The two day workshop - "Image Dreamings: Basic Silk Screen Printing on Cloth" - was organized by Amanda Donohue, the workshop co-ordinator for the Newcastle Printmakers Workshop Inc., Adamstown, Newcastle, Australia. It was held at the Newcastle Printmakers Workshop premises at 27 Popran Road, Adamstown, Newcastle, on the 29th & 30th March 2025. It was an honor to be invited to tutor this workshop to such an enthusiastic and hard-working group of participants.
From Left to Right: Josephine Bateman, Jann Barton, Mardi Ryan, Alison Winn, Wendy Nutt, and Jennifer Wood.
The output of all my students were spectacular. I won't highlight their outputs since it would take up too much space in this yearly review. However, please click on the following link to see their output - Workshop Outputs
I hope you have enjoyed this review of the yearly posts between August of 2024 to August of 2025 in the "Year of the Snake."
Reference:
[1] https://vinpearl.com/en/vietnamese-new-year-animals-12-signs-their-symbolism.
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