Chinese Zodiac Horse（马）

100*120cm, 2023

This oil painting integrates oracle bone script elements, which appear both faint and prominent within the composition, blending subtly with the canvas. Each of the twelve zodiac animals is represented with distinctive imagery, intertwined with oracle bone script characters.

The use of color enhances these forms, creating a unique visual language. The dynamic strokes and bold color contrasts suggest a fusion of ancient script with modern abstract expression. The script, which is one of the oldest forms of Chinese writing, is reimagined in this contemporary context, bridging the past with the present. The painting could be interpreted as a dialogue between history and modernity, where traditional Chinese cultural elements are reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary art.

Niu explores themes of time, memory, and the enduring relevance of cultural symbols, all while challenging the viewer to find coherence within the abstraction. The zodiac animals, significant in Chinese astrology and folklore, are not depicted literally but are suggested through abstract forms and their interaction with the ancient characters, adding layers of cultural significance and inviting contemplation on the deeper meanings beyond the visual spectacle.