This illustration was commissioned by ZHONG ZHOU WAN( 中洲湾) Shopping Center in Shenzhen for the Spring Festival celebration, marking the Year of the Horse.

In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes vitality, movement, and progress. For this project, I wanted to move beyond a single symbolic image and instead capture the New Year as a collective experience, filled with music, gifts, dance, and shared joy.

The illustration unfolds as a continuous festive procession. Figures, animals, flowers, and objects intertwine in motion, creating a sense of rhythm and flow across the composition. I approached the scene almost like a visual choreography, allowing color and repetition to guide the viewer’s eye. A vibrant red palette anchors the image in traditional New Year symbolism, while bold shapes and playful details push the visual language toward a contemporary, celebratory tone. Rather than illustrating folklore literally, the focus was on translating the festival's emotional energy into an expansive, welcoming visual experience.

This project reflects my ongoing interest in reinterpreting traditional cultural imagery through modern illustration, especially within public and commercial spaces.

Client: ZHONG ZHOU WAN( 中洲湾) Shopping Center