Snake Exhibition Highlights the 'Shape of Spirituality'

With the Year of the Snake already halfway through, a snake-themed exhibition is currently on at the Long Museum West Bund.

The "Shape of Spirituality: Special Exhibition for the Year of the Snake," which features a selection of modern and contemporary artworks from a private collection, will run until October 12.

This year, 2025, is the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. As one of the earliest totems of the Chinese civilization, images of snakes date back over 8,000 years. Legends and rich connotations associated with snakes have flowed and evolved over thousands of years.

In Gallery 6, more than 30 abstract artworks resonate visually with the imagery of snakes and other biomorphic forms. Artists convey meaning through lines and evoke spirit through shape – some capturing the texture of natural materials, others interpreting the form and structure of creatures, and still others using mixed media to emphasize the expression of force and dynamics.

Meanwhile, in Gallery 3, another group of over 30 paintings takes inspiration from seasonal views of nature and mountain landscapes.

Held to celebrate the Year of the Snake, the exhibition aims to present the influence of natural elements and biological forms on artistic creation, and uplift viewers by inviting them to feel the winding lines as vessels of boundless hope, and to see in the coiled forms a reflection of diligence and inner strength.

If you go:

Date: Through October 12, 10am-6pm (Tuesday-Thursday); 10am-9pm (Friday-Sunday)

Venue: Gallery 3&6, Long Museum West Bund

Address: 3398 Longteng Ave, Xuhui District

徐汇区龙腾大道 3398号

Admission: Free