when: 12 February 2026 - 01 March 2026 | venue: George Street | cost: Free | address: George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
published: 11 Feb 2026, 5 min read
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Look up from the streets of the city centre and spot the vibrant artworks of Asian-Australian artists on street banners to celebrate the Year of the Horse.
Knights of Elements is a digital sculpture series celebrating the Year of the Horse through a fusion of Eastern and Western motifs. Inspired by the knight in Western chess and the horse in Chinese chess (象棋), the work bridges 2 symbolic worlds of strategy, creativity and motion.
Each sculpture embodies one of the 5 elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water - reinterpreting Chinese cosmology through contemporary materials and digital simulations. Organic and synthetic textures reflect Australia's multicultural design identity and landscapes.
At each sculpture's base, the Chinese character 马 (horse) anchors miniature environments shaped like Chinese chess pieces - ranging from stylised gardens to fluid water scenes - inviting interaction and discovery.
By merging symbolic form, digital technology and participatory design, Knights of Elements reimagines Lunar New Year in Sydney as a dialogue between tradition and innovation, where cultural heritage transcends borders and the horse charges forward into new creative terrain.
About the artist
Jiabao Zhao is a design computation specialist at Woods Bagot, integrating digital innovation with architectural design. Since 2015, he has supported global projects across regions. He's also the founder of RandomPlayer Lab, a creative studio exploring the intersection of physical and virtual design.
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Look up from the streets of the city centre and spot the vibrant artworks of Asian-Australian artists on street banners to celebrate the Year of the Horse.
Knights of Elements is a digital sculpture series celebrating the Year of the Horse through a fusion of Eastern and Western motifs. Inspired by the knight in Western chess and the horse in Chinese chess (象棋), the work bridges 2 symbolic worlds of strategy, creativity and motion.
Each sculpture embodies one of the 5 elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water - reinterpreting Chinese cosmology through contemporary materials and digital simulations. Organic and synthetic textures reflect Australia's multicultural design identity and landscapes.
At each sculpture's base, the Chinese character 马 (horse) anchors miniature environments shaped like Chinese chess pieces - ranging from stylised gardens to fluid water scenes - inviting interaction and discovery.
By merging symbolic form, digital technology and participatory design, Knights of Elements reimagines Lunar New Year in Sydney as a dialogue between tradition and innovation, where cultural heritage transcends borders and the horse charges forward into new creative terrain.
About the artist
Jiabao Zhao is a design computation specialist at Woods Bagot, integrating digital innovation with architectural design. Since 2015, he has supported global projects across regions. He's also the founder of RandomPlayer Lab, a creative studio exploring the intersection of physical and virtual design.
Go see Knights of Elements by Jiabao Zhao 2026.
Knights of Elements by Jiabao Zhao 2026 is on 12 February 2026 - 01 March 2026. See start and end times below. Conveniently located in Sydney.
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