As 2026 ushers in the Year of the Horse, Beijing-based artist Ma Xiao (known as Max017) is redefining urban art through a vibrant fusion of traditional zodiac symbolism and contemporary graffiti. His latest project, unveiled this week on a 50-meter concrete wall in Chaoyang District, pulses with the untamed energy of the horse – his birth zodiac sign.
"This isn't just spray paint – it's cultural electricity," Ma told KhabarAsia.com, demonstrating how swirling manes merge with calligraphic strokes. The mural's dynamic composition incorporates elements from The Book of Changes, creating visual rhythms that change perspective with daylight.
Local residents have embraced the transformation. "My children now ask about zodiac legends instead of video game characters," shared shop owner Li Wei, whose storefront faces the artwork. City officials confirm three more sanctioned mural projects are planned before the Lunar New Year peak in late January 2027.
Art critics note the timing aligns with China's growing street art movement, which saw a 40% increase in public art installations across the Chinese mainland in 2025. For global investors, such cultural initiatives signal evolving urban development priorities in Asian megacities.
Ma's next ambition? "I want to gallop across the Taiwan Strait through art," he revealed, hinting at potential cross-strait cultural exchanges. As night falls, the mural's UV-reactive paints ensure the celestial horses continue their symbolic charge under city lights.
