Snake inspired art shines in Beijing

To celebrate the arrival of the Chinese lunar calendar's Year of the Snake, an art installation inspired by the slithery reptile has been launched in Beijing. Our reporter Yang Ran brings us highlights from the glittering show at the capital's CBD Shin Kong Place shopping center.

Internationally renowned actress Michelle Yeoh, and South Korean screen heartthrob Jang Dong-Gun wowed the Chinese audience by unveiling a super-sized Serpenti necklace by the Italian jewelry brand Bvlagri. The 67-meter-long installation on the mall's exterior is composed of 95,000 LED lights, covered by 62 luminous scales. It took 25 technicians 40 days to complete.

But the ceremony was not the only dazzling moment of the night. A Bvlgari Serpenti heritage collection was also on exhibit, featuring watches and jewelry created since the 1960s. It helped give Chinese shoppers a glimpse of Italy's jewelry culture.

From the east to the west, from ancient Greece and Rome to modern China, the snake is not only seen as the embodiment of power, but also the symbol of ever-lasting wisdom and youth. Throughout history, the image of the serpent has often served as decoration or an amulet.

During the 1940s, Bvlgari created its jewelry and watch line titled SERPENTI, the Italian word for Serpent.

Other actresses Yao Chen, Zhang Jingchu and Pace Wu, adorned with Serpenti jewelry, also admired the exhibition with some 200 other guests. The stars expressed their various wishes for the Year of the Snake.

Zhang said, "I wish all the best for my family and friends. Now I'm preparing my new movie and if the script fits, I may do the directing job myself for the first time."

Actor Jang Dong-gun said, "My 2012 movie "Dangerous Liaison" was screened in China last October and I'm looking forward to more collaborations with Chinese filmmakers. Although it's much colder here than in South Korea, I feel very excited to visit China right before the Chinese New Year."

Actress Michelle Yeoh said, "I take great care of my health so that I'm in good shape when filming action movies. I've heard that the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" crew is planning the sequel and now I'm seriously considering whether I can fit this film into my schedule this year."

This is the last stop for the splendid LED installation, after touring New York, Tokyo, Rome and Shanghai. The luminous Serpenti will shine its greeting to the forthcoming Year of the Snake until February 19th.