Davis Vachon – Raku Plate
Imminent creative regeneration with serpent powers rare emergence.
Throughout history, serpents have held potent and often contradictory symbolism, representing both commanding life-giving energies and destructive forces. They are associated with fertility, renewal and healing, but also with temptation, evil, and chaos. This awesome duality is reflected in various cultures and mythologies, where serpents are revered as guardians and symbols of wisdom while conversely as agents of destruction. The Year of the Wood Snake in 2025, a significant period in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizes knowledge, transformation, and personal growth, emphasizing the nurturing and creative energy of the jovian Wood element. The snake, in this year, represents strategic thinking, intuition, and adaptability, encouraging individuals to navigate challenges with a belief in renewal.
THE curvaceous snake appears in art and nature in numerous ways — coiling spirals, winding bends, sensuous curves, serpentine shapes, sinuous undulating patterns all are widely represented.
Daniel Kei sculpture – ‘Embrace’
Serpents shed their skin, symbolizing transformation, immortality, and the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The snake entwined around a staff, the Rod of Asclepius, is a widely recognized symbol of medicine and healing. Serpents are often depicted as guardians of sacred spaces, temples, and treasures.
Wood Snake eras signify expansive creativity combined with rebirth and only occur with a frequency of every sixty years. Hence the last time this happened was in 1965, which was definately exemplififed by the very distinctive designs of the Mid Century Modern genre and architecture. Musically, the 60s was highlighted by the brilliant exploration of new styles from the Beatles and a plethora of unique arists like Joni Mitchel, Beach Boys and Jimi Hendrix. The Wood Dragon of 2024 also aligned with this era (1964) which explains the colourful bold designs of this phase.
I’m curious to explore the sinuous, expressive designs that highlighted creativity back then and what is reoccurring now. I’m anticipating irrepressible, entrancing, ebullience will be emerging along with a manifestation of a more instrinsic flow and flexibility.
Belle Epoque Snake Bangle
1890
Leanne Hamilton – ‘Abundance in Thalo Blue’
— flowing gracefulness of undersea flora and fauna.
Haute Couture Spiral Hat – Bill Cunningham
‘Evening Land’ – Phillip Hershey
‘Sculpture 77’ — Jack Eagan
Peter Layton
Citroen DS — 1965
The name DS is a pun on déesse, the French word for goddess, reflecting its iconic status and advanced nature. It has been recognized as one of the most influential auto designs.
Italian Maiolica Snake Handled Vase Made by Fabbrica Benucci
Serpent coiled Tree Of Life
Dewi Sri, the Hindu Goddess of rice and fertility.
Snakes were reveared for good fortune instead of being feared as dangerous
Zsolnay, Ungarn, Janos Török
1950
Donations to ancient Jamon Stone Charms – reputed to attract luck and money
Kanahebi Suijinja shrine
Derek Jungarrayi Thompson, Wati Kuniya I
FNUM — natures sinuous branches
Jacques Lipchitz– ‘Woman and Serpent’
1913
Playing the bass wind ‘Serpent’ instrument
Serpentone copper engraving by Arnold van Westerhout
1723
David Delamare — ‘Mermaid & Octopus’
— flow and movement, as opposed to stagnation, is thought to encourage abundance energies to be welcomed into your space.
Jon Danson — ceramic sgrafitto vessel
Medusa snake head wall decor
Hygieia bas-relief by Armand Filion, 1955.
Ceramic sculpture ‘Satoru Kundalini’ –– Arna Baartz
Ai WeiWei — Snake Ceiling,
2009
Angel Ceron Life and Death Pre Hispanic Mask
Altar at the Casa dei Vettii in Pompei. Larario
Summer shards 2025 – Catherine White
Carlton Ware double handled boat shaped center bowl
Nine Dragon Wall
Pair of Large Chinese Bronze Cloisonné Dragon and Phoenix Vases
Kundalini Rising’ by Ross Bannister
Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand.
Golden Uraeus of Senusret II, a symbol of royalty and divine authority in ancient Egypt.
Jiroft artifact vase
Bas Relief ‘Mowgli Le Livre De Le Jungle’ — Raymond Delamarre
1927
‘Ancient Serpent’ Decorative Ceramic Vessel – Arlen Estrada
‘Waterfall’ by Nando Alvarez
(Carved Abstract Stone Water Flow statue)
Derrick Wanapi — Jar sgrafitto
Yarraville garden Mural
Teapot, China, Qing Dynasty Kangxi era (1662-1722)
Egyptian rocket goddess Audrey Flack
Elvira Bach — NUDE WITH SNAKE
Ornate wall panel relief — sculpture from the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur, Karnataka, India.
Lindy Rontji – ‘Sand dunes at Papunya’
2007
MaPo Kinnord ‘Cosmic Key’
Mid Century Modern curves — Verner Panton ‘Heart Cone Chair’
1958
Han Jiang River Stone
Azure orange serpent.
Nataraj terracotta
Indian dancing
Waylande Gregory — Large Deco Phoenician Style Melusine Vase
1930s
‘Mister Curley comes home’ – Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig Aussie artist cartoonist
Medusa 5D Diamond Painting
Messiah having a break
My wonderful ginger cat created this feline art statement by chewing the cardboard for several days.
Silky Hakea
Mitchell Grafton – ‘Brown Snake’
Anawuwujjara — ‘Moch — the Rainbow Serpent’
1969
Cobra sculpture ‘Renenutet’– an ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, harvest, and nourishment
Peter Voulkos
Antique Silver Cigarette & Vesta Case
Ariel image of a landscape serpent in South Australia
Australian water dragon lizard
Benalla Mural art
Bharti Dayal—Lord Shiva
Boniface Mushave 90
‘The Thinker’ Serpentine 2001
Ryan Peters – Hand-built Raku Teapot – Metallic Copper Gold Pink Blue
Chongqing–The largest city in the world
popualtion 34 million
Rolo the Royal Python with Bill Bailey
Fat lava multi color vase from Scheurich germany
1970s
Mid century West German ceramic floor vase by Carstens Tonnieshof
The Christological Symbol (Brazen Serpent Sculpture), created by Italian artist, Giovanni Fantoni,
Stands atop Mount Nebo, Jordan
Naga sculpture with pearl
Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture Nana & Serpent
1992
Pablo Lobato — drummer Ringo
‘The First Approach of the Serpent,” an engraving by Gustave Doré
Philippe Hiquily
Dragon wall sculpture – Heaveny Queen Temple
Capable of perpetual growth — Giant python – Sri Lanka
Queen Califia’s magical circle Niki de Saint Phalle mosaic
Sculpture garden in Escondido
Red and Turquoise Ceramic Vase
Rene Lalique ~ Gold Serpent
Reptilianie nagrania head piece
rhs garden Rosemoor
Nastassja Kinski and the serpent — Richard Avedon
Richard Erdman sculpture
Rick Rudd
Realistic serpent allure wall art
Serpent Rising—Alexander Calamei
Sakurako Matsushima — Undercurrents VII
Tobacco snake Olla by artist Olivia Dominguez
Mata Ortiz
The Minoan Snake Goddess of Crete — John Duncan
1917
The Tetons and the Snake River, 1942 Ansel Adams
The Punishment Of Loki – Norse mythology.
‘Tjapaltjarri’– Clifford Possum,
Carved and Painted Snake
Tjimpuna Williams — Piltati II, 2023
stoneware with sgraffito, 435cm height
Snake Jungle Wallpaper
Edouard CAZAUX vase — decoration medallions of the birth of Venus and Bacchae, polychrome enamel background coral sections
Vintage California Style Ceramic Pottery Boomarang Ash Tray
Vintage Royal Haeger Pottery Mandarin Orange ‘Exotic’ Vase
Pair of Arne Jacobsen Swan Chairs
Winged Caduceus Mercury sculpture
Yayoi Kusama
photo Sean Fennessy
Yayoi Kusama’s — The Hope of the Polka Dots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe
A highly successful immersive exhibition.
NGV 2025
Young royal python wrapped around tree trunk with its head facing upwards
Zeus Meilichios
Isis, the Graeco Egyptienne serpent goddess descended from Nammu Tiamat
Vintage Satsuma Moriage Vase —Immortals and Raised Dragon
Tree Serpent Flame ~ Fairyland Vase by Wedgwood
Rainbow Serpent Billawarra
Sascha Brastoff ~ Snake Charmer Jewelry Box
Sascha Brastoff ~Lady Dancer ashtray
Phanes, a primordial deity from Greek mythology, often associated with creation and new life. He is described as being born from an egg and is sometimes referred to as the first-born god. Phanes is considered to be the god of time, light, truth, and justice, and is seen as a symbol of cosmic order and knowledge.
Townley Vase
The urn is decorated with a Bacchic procession, depicting revellers carrying cups, grapes, and other symbols.
‘Yerrakartarta’ mural — Adelaide
Intercontinetal Hotel Forecourt
Indian 8th century Nagaraja carving
Rosemary Egan Nampijinpa indiginous artist
‘Maguk’ also known as Barramundi Gorge
Kakadu NT, AUS
Amy Chen Wood Vase Sculpture
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