Beijing exhibition showcases zodiac designs ahead of Year of the Horse

The Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center opened a special exhibition on New Year's Day featuring winning designs from the annual Global Zodiac Design Competition, which this year celebrates the Year of the Horse.

The "Global Zodiac Design Competition Invitational Exhibition" for the Year of the Horse opens at the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center, Jan. 1, 2026. [Photo by Liu Sitong/China.org.cn]

The horse in the zodiac system and traditional Chinese culture symbolizes strength, vitality and an enterprising spirit. The winning works reflect these concepts and the celebratory spirit of the new year.

Fang Lefei won first prize for graphic design with a work inspired by the "Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum" from the Tang dynasty (618-907) and white porcelain horses from Xing kiln sites of the same period.

Russian designer Pisklakov Pavel placed second for graphic design with "Year of the Fire Horse," a contemporary, minimalist work that uses bold reds, oranges and yellows — colors traditionally used in China to create a festive atmosphere.

The product design category awarded works that included a redesign of the traditional Chinese puzzle game Huarongdao, toy bricks inspired by tri-colored glazed pottery, as well as shoes, jewelry, timers and pen holders. All were commended for balancing practicality with ornamental value.

The competition has run for 12 consecutive years, completing a full cycle of the Chinese zodiac. To mark the milestone, the exhibition includes works from previous years and a new category for designs based on all 12 signs. Guangxi Fine Arts Publishing House has also published a book compiling past entries, titled "The Zodiac Culture of China."

Lin Cunzhen, a professor and vice dean of the School of Design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, has served on the judging panel since 2016. In the book, she wrote that she hopes the zodiac will move beyond a mere sign of birth to become a design language across time and space.

She also expressed hope that the competition would continue to bring together creative ideas worldwide, allowing design to become a bond between tradition and modernity, and between China and the world.

The exhibition drew visitors on its opening day. Meng, a visitor, said she found the designs aesthetically pleasing, particularly the harmonious color contrasts. She added that the exhibition was well-timed ahead of the Year of the Horse.