Peace Lanterns

by Esther Cheng

15" x 22" • Watercolor

Lanterns have been played very significant roles in my (Chinese) culture. There were utilitarian roles before the electricity. Then, there are symbolic roles that relate to especial events, happy or sad, birth or death…. Also there are literature writings about lighting lanterns at the door night after night waiting for the loved ones to come home. I am using the plant, Chinese lantern as a double meaning: same name, similar shape. There are Chinese words, PEACE in the background of the painting. Only when there is PEACE then our soldiers can come home. So we can hang our lanterns for PEACE.