lunar new year | snakes on a stroll 2025

Created for the Year of the Wooden Snake, Snakes on a Stroll is a playful public art installation designed by Basalt Studio in collaboration with Haymarket HQ for Sydney’s Lunar New Year celebrations. The sculpture features a family of snakes – two parents and a baby perched on Dad’s shoulders, capturing the familiar moment of families strolling through Chinatown during the festive season.

Made from locally sourced marine plywood and reusable materials, the sculpture honours both the year’s natural element and sustainable design. It’s a simple but intentional gesture to create something that feels both thoughtful and connected to place.

The block-style design gives the snakes a modern, pixelated look, something that quietly connects with a generation raised on Minecraft, video games, and Lego bricks. It’s a playful reference that resonates with kids, families, and anyone who grew up building worlds from colourful blocks.

At its heart, Snakes on a Stroll is about family and community – two values that sit at the core of Lunar New Year celebrations. It’s also a special personal tribute, as Basalt Studio’s Co-Founder Anthony Ho recently welcomed a newborn child, who arrived just in time to join this year’s festivities. The baby snake is a small but meaningful detail that made this project all the more special to us.

By day, the snakes bring colour and curiosity to Dixon Street. By night, they come to life under the glow of Chinatown’s neon lights, blending into the energy of the city and creating a fun, interactive moment for visitors. Whether you stop to take photos or simply pass by, the snakes invite people to be part of the story—a story about coming together, celebrating, and sharing joy.

Project Managed by Haymarket HQ

Designed by Anthony Ho of Basalt Studio

Constructed by Regiment Workshop