Design Details - Artist Simon Ng
- Jan 31, 2024
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- 3 MINUTE READ
Since his first design was featured on a Canadian coin 16 years ago, artist Simon Ng’s work has been minted nearly 40 times.
While his design process follows a familiar rhythm, Simon sees every design as an opportunity to tell an important story in a unique way – even when the coin’s subject matter is thousands of years old.
As we enter the Lunar New Year on February 10th, this is the perfect chance to dive into the fine details of Simon’s Year of the Dragon coin designs and the delicate, yet deliberate decisions that pay homage to the vibrant Asian traditions and heritage of our Asian Canadian communities.
Since his first design was featured on a Canadian coin 16 years ago, artist Simon Ng’s work has been minted nearly 40 times.
While his design process follows a familiar rhythm, Simon sees every design as an opportunity to tell an important story in a unique way – even when the coin’s subject matter is thousands of years old.
As we enter the Lunar New Year on February 10th, this is the perfect chance to dive into the fine details of Simon’s Year of the Dragon coin designs and the delicate, yet deliberate decisions that pay homage to the vibrant Asian traditions and heritage of our Asian Canadian communities.
The start of the story.
Originally from Brunei, a small country on Borneo Island (Indonesia), Simon Ng arrived in Canada and found himself studying at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Wistfully, Simon shares, “for as long as I can remember, art has followed me”.
Simon began his artistic career illustrating for books, magazines, and advertising, embarking on his artistic collaboration with us in 2008.
If you’re familiar with Simon’s portfolio or his Instagram page, you know the breadth and depth of his subject matter and the variety of his skillset but you may not know the process by which he brings his incredible art pieces to life. While each medium requires its own unique approach, when starting a coin design, Simon begins with an understanding of the project’s parameters and an eye towards the priority of the design. He notes, “Each project possesses its exclusive set of requirements, however the main priority is to establish a silhouette that is appealing when viewed closely and from afar. The negative (background) and positive (subject) spaces should work in a cohesive manner that enables the viewer to be visually and emotionally affected by the various components in the design.”
Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon coins
With extensive experience designing coins for our Lunar New Year series, Simon’s approach in designing the 2024 $8 Pure Gold – Spirit Dragon coin featuring Shenlong, was to show how “the auspicious Spirit Dragon had dominion of the sky, wind, and rain. Therefore, beside the dragon itself, it was essential to maintain those elements in the design to establish its distinct persona. Hence, I envisioned the dragon with a commanding pose…he appears from the skies, rolling forward, with his very breath casting large gales and his claws clutching the clouds, preparing to hurl them to the earth below.”
Additionally, a deliberate choice was made in the design to position Shenlong in the rough shape of the lucky number eight and to reflect this lucky number in the mintage of the coin with only 1,888 available worldwide.
Meanwhile, the rhythmic serpentine movement of the revered Wood dragon became the initial inspiration for the $100 Pure Gold – Lunar Year of the Dragon coin design. The coin depicts a Wood Dragon chasing the Dragon Pearl, or Fire Ball that represents wisdom and prosperity. The snake-like form of the auspicious creature echoes the stylized waves that rise and fall beneath it, like a landscape marked by rolling hills.
As Simon explained, “Its undulating tail underlines the overall composition and its cadence is repeated throughout (the design); from its flowing mane, the wave-like fins, and the flourishes of the winding stems connecting the symbolic cherry blossoms. (Although) the dragon is often perceived to be a large, omnipotent and intimidating entity…for this design, I wanted to convey the benevolent and beautiful aspects of its character by adorning cherry blossoms and other varieties of flowers to its body and the environment surrounding it.”
Going for the Gold
While the process of designing high-quality, intricately detailed coins, like our Year of the Dragon suite, can be challenging, Simon is guided by his passion for excellence and desire to push his own design boundaries.
“I always find it a challenge when a project presents itself with its set of guidelines and time restrictions. It’s personally satisfying to find creative solutions to unravelling the puzzle. Like a child, the fun comes from fumbling around in the dark, exploring, failing, and failing again, then resuming the process from a different perspective until one becomes resigned to the notion that this is the best one can do, given the criteria provided. However, the greatest joy arrives when the best you can do far exceeds both yours and the client’s expectations.”
Ultimately, Simon shares that he “hope(s) the artwork is a reflection of the belief that Canada’s diversity is its strength and it is celebrated. I also hope Chinese Canadians remain both proud of their heritage, and be unequivocally honoured to be a Canadian.
”Check out our suite of Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon coins here.