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| 5630 Dunbar St. at 41st Ave. 604-684-4613 |
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Canada Post launches Year of the Ox stamps in Vancouver |
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Hundreds of people mobbed the main auditorium of the Vancouver Chinese Cultural Centre today to be first in line to buy stamps, FDC's, coins and posters commemorating the start of the Year of the Ox. Many people milled around greeting politicians, the Chinese Consulate General, representatives of the Cultural Centre and Canada Post, as well as friends and neighbours. But they were also lining up at the sales table, even though sales wouldn't start until after the ceremonies. |
 Canada Post has already produced the complete set of 12 Lunar New Year stamps and the Year of the Ox will start the next 12 year cycle, obviously popular with the public.
The Ox is the astrological symbol of the Earth and represents a time of stability, harmony and balance, a welcome influence in these economic times. |
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 Following introductions and greetings and speeches by (from left to right) Mr. Quiang Yang, Chinese Consulate General, Dr. Miriam Yu, Chair of the CCC, Shu Hwei Kao, artist, and the Sales and Promotions manager of Canada Post, the design of the souvenir sheet was unveiled.
The artist, Shu Hwei Kao, is one of the only traditional Chinese potters living in Canada. She was commissioned to design a traditional pot featuring an ox, as the ox is the symbol of earth, as is the clay. The souvenir sheet is designed in the shape of a scroll, rooted in Chinese tradition, as decorative scrolls are widely believed to have their origins in China. |
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So the international stamp was inspired by long traditions of Chinese art and Lunar New Year decor. "We featured a work of pottery, as the art form is heavily rooted in Chinese history," explains Ivan Novotny, VP of Design at Toronto's Taylor - Sprules Corporation. An ancient art form of Asian descent, pottery wares have been sculpted in China since the Paleolithic era. "We also chose it for its connection to the earth, since 2009 is the year of the Earth Ox.
According to Chinese philosophy, everyone and everything is subject to the influences of the Five Elements: Water, Metal, Earth, Wood and Fire. The elements rotate through the zodiac every year, and each is associated with specific character traits: stability, industry and practicality in the case of earth. The spark that surrounds the Chinese character for "Ox" in the bottom left hand corner of the international stamp evokes the fireworks of New Year celebrations. Gold foil is applied to the spark, while clear foil and multi-level embossing techniques add shine and dimension to the pottery vase. The red Chinese characters running down the left edge of the scroll are the names of all 12 lunar animals.
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| The domestic stamp features an illustration of an Ox before a mountainous landscape. The design of the background and the use of earth colours speak again to this year's element, Earth. Clear foil in the shape of plum blossoms are subtly scattered over the stamp and margin. These flowers are indigenous to and the national flower of China and are common subjects in Chinese art and New Years decor. Blooming in the early spring snow, they symbolize life, rebirth and adversity overcome.
The Ox and the blossoms, so adorned with clear foil, shine in the light, while multi-level embossing adds depth and dimension. |
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| Official First Day Cover with the domestic rate stamp. | ||
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| The actual pot designed and made by the artist Shu Hwei Kao.
See and buy the previous set of Lunar New Year stamps. |
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Newsletter #161 |
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