Exhibition Looks at Zodiac Symbols That Carry Vivid Reflections of Everyday Life

Galloping into the Year of the Horse with imagination, wit and a very contemporary spirit, the "Horse · Zodiac Art Exhibition" has opened a playful and thought-provoking window into how traditional Chinese culture can be re-seen.

Bringing together over 200 works selected from more than 7,000 submissions worldwide, the exhibition of horses presents them not only as zodiac symbols but also as vivid reflections of everyday life.

From calligraphy and ink painting to sculpture, mixed media, paper art and unexpected materials like branches, metal, rope and even paper clips, the exhibition embraces a truly free-spirited visual language. Mythical horses, historical horses, abstract horses and horses born from pure imagination coexist in a space that feels both grounded and wildly inventive.

This year, "New Mass Art," real-life creative expressions influenced by contemporary visual culture, is a highlight. Inner Mongolian grasslands, intimate human-animal bonds, and comic-style narratives add warmth, humor and lived experience. The horse symbolizes aspiration, resilience, and the quiet beauty of daily life.

Hidden throughout the exhibition space, horses appear in countless forms, which are playful, powerful, contemplative, or in full motion, inviting visitors to slow down, look closely, and discover their own reflections within these animated figures.

Auspicious, energetic and full of momentum, the exhibition carries a simple but heartfelt wish: that good things arrive swiftly and that the new year moves forward with confidence and grace.

Date: Through March 18

Venue: Shanghai Library East Branch

上海图书馆东馆

Address: 300 Hehuan Rd

合欢路300号