The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, is a celebration of family and togetherness. People will light lanterns, eat mooncakes and admire the beauty of the full moon which symbolises togetherness.

To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on Monday, 6 October, Westfield has commissioned artist Hoi Chan, originally from Hong Kong, to create a special artwork that reflects the Festival and its cultural significance across many parts of Asia.

We sat down with Hoi to hear his perspective on the piece and to learn what the Mid-Autumn Festival means to him personally, especially now that he’s living in New Orleans.

Hoi told us, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is very special to me, as it holds many fond memories from my childhood in Hong Kong. I remember gathering with other kids in the neighbourhood to play with lanterns, enjoying mooncakes with my family, and spending time together under the full moon. I was inspired to bring together different elements in my work – such as mixing Chinese and Vietnamese lanterns with the imagery of a ladder field. In doing so, I reflect on how traditions evolve with me, carrying both memory and a sense of belonging wherever I go."

What does Mid-Autumn Festival mean to you personally?

For me, the Mid-Autumn Festival has a very distinct feeling. Growing up in Hong Kong, my family always saw it as the moment when summer ended and the cozier seasons of fall and winter began. We’d prepare mooncakes, tea, fruit, and lanterns – it always felt like a celebration that awakened all the senses.

Are there any memories of celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival that stand out from your childhood?

Yes – on festival night, the parks would fill with lanterns and candles. I remember looking out from my family’s apartment window and seeing all the little flickering lights. I’d get so excited, grab my lantern, and rush outside to join the other kids in the neighbourhood.

What inspires you in the artwork you have created for Mid-Autumn Festival?

The Mid-Autumn Festival always feels breezy, calm, and luminous to me, and I try to capture that atmosphere in my work through a quiet colour palette. I also placed the moon within a valley rather than above the characters, so it feels closer – creating a sense of comfort and safety, as if I am surrounded by friends and family.

Now that you live outside of Hong Kong, how do you connect with Mid-Autumn Festival today?

Even though I don’t live in Hong Kong anymore, I still celebrate with my family. We light lanterns, eat mooncakes, and spend a little time together in the garden looking at the moon. It’s not a big celebration, but I actually love the quietness of it.

You can find out more about Hoi Chan and his artwork here.