Knights of Elements by Jiabao Zhao

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.