Chinese lanterns illuminate Toronto

A Chinese lantern festival at the Toronto Zoo is bringing wildlife and natural landscapes to life, marking two decades of Zigong lantern art in Canada while reflecting how a traditional craft has evolved to connect audiences across cultures.

Glow in the Wild opened on Sept 2 and runs through Jan 3. Featuring more than 2,000 lanterns, the exhibition combines traditional Chinese craftsmanship with illuminated wildlife and natural scenes.

This year's focus on nature distinguishes the exhibition from earlier displays that often featured Chinese architecture, mythology, dragons, phoenixes and folk traditions, said Joy Lin, project director of Zigong Lantern Culture Industry Group.

"We chose a theme that has greater international resonance — 'Colour in Nature'," Lin told China Daily.

"While preserving the traditional craftsmanship of Zigong lantern-making, we have placed particular emphasis on artistically recreating the forms of the natural world," she said.

For Dolf DeJong, chief executive officer of the Toronto Zoo, the exhibition offers a way to combine artistic creativity with the zoo's mission of connecting people with wildlife.

"What makes this art form particularly special is its ability to transform familiar subjects into extraordinary illuminated works of art," DeJong said. Through intricate designs, vibrant colors and craftsmanship, the lanterns offer visitors a different perspective on animals and their natural environments.

The exhibition also features Canadian species, including the loggerhead shrike and wood bison, alongside zoo favorites such as ring-tailed lemurs and tigers.

One installation tells the story of the endangered Blanding's turtle and was created in collaboration with an Indigenous artist, linking traditional lantern art with local conservation efforts.

"By bringing these animals to life through traditional Chinese lantern artistry, we're able to celebrate the incredible diversity of wildlife while creating opportunities to spark conversations about conservation and the importance of protecting species at risk," DeJong told China Daily.

For the organizers, however, the experience extends beyond the individual displays. The arrangement of lanterns, the use of space and the atmosphere created by lighting and music all contribute to an exhibition designed to tell a story.

"We not only want visitors to see beautiful lanterns, but hope they enter the world created by the lanterns and experience surprise, curiosity and emotion," Lin said.

The exhibition's spatial design is equally important, Lin said.

"A good lantern design cannot simply look beautiful on paper," she said. "It must also be able to create an emotionally engaging and powerful artistic scene in the actual space."

The relationship between Zigong lantern art and Canada dates back to 2006, when a large-scale lantern festival from Zigong was presented at Toronto's Ontario Place. Lin described the event as an important starting point for the art form's development in Canada.

Over the past 20 years, she said, the approach has evolved from cultural presentation toward integration, joint creation and longer-term cooperation.

"Successful international cultural exchange cannot simply involve replicating an exhibition that has worked in China and presenting it overseas.

"Different countries have different cultural backgrounds, aesthetic preferences and ways of life. For traditional art to become part of local society, we must understand the interests and emotional needs of local audiences and find themes that resonate across cultures," Lin said.

The Toronto Zoo exhibition reflects that approach. Rather than simply bringing finished lanterns to Canada, the Chinese team and its local partners worked together on the theme, artistic settings and visitor experience, incorporating the zoo's conservation and public education goals.

"The most important significance of these 20 years of collaboration is not only to let the world see the beauty of China, but also to work with overseas partners to tell the world's shared stories through Chinese lantern art," Lin said.

In Chinese traditions, lanterns symbolize light, reunion, happiness and hope, particularly during the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival, Lin said.

She also sees the craft as an expression of respect for traditional workmanship and of the relationship between people and nature.

"The most moving moments at a lantern festival are often not just the grand installations.

"They are scenes of families walking through the lights, children excitedly discovering their favorite animals, parents stopping to take photographs, and friends sharing moments of surprise and memories worth cherishing," Lin said.

Such experiences can provide an accessible starting point for cultural exchange, particularly for visitors encountering Chinese lantern traditions for the first time.

"By experiencing these works of art firsthand, guests have an opportunity to appreciate the people, skills and traditions that make them possible," DeJong said.

He said the zoo hopes visitors will look beyond the lights and colors, ask questions and discover the cultural stories behind the art.

"Ultimately, events like Glow in the Wild remind us that art and storytelling can connect people across different cultures, backgrounds and generations," DeJong said. "By creating shared experiences, we can foster curiosity, understanding and a greater sense of connection within our communities."

Lin sees further opportunities for Zigong lantern art in cultural tourism and immersive exhibitions, while emphasizing the need for lasting international partnerships.

"The future of Zigong lantern art should not simply be about transporting more lanterns to different parts of the world," Lin said.

"It should be about allowing this traditional art form to become part of the cultural life of different countries, as an international artistic expression that transcends language, culture and geography," she said.