Sculptor Nguyễn Nam is completing a trio of steel-reinforced cement horse statues symbolising a united family. The centrepiece is a rearing stallion, standing about 2.3 metres tall, conveying strength and vitality, while two smaller horses complete the set. The works, produced over one month, emphasise anatomical realism and will be finished with faux bronze paint to highlight muscular detail.
Nam said he rarely creates zodiac-themed works, but made an exception this year because both he and his wife were born in the Year of the Horse. He described the sculptures as an expression of wishes for peace and breakthroughs in the year ahead, and as part of his longer-term plan to decorate a future café or restaurant.
Taking a contrasting approach, sculptor Triệu Tiến Dũng has created two horses in relaxed, grazing poses rather than dynamic motion. Originally conceived as a mare and foal, the work evolved into a pair of horses to reflect the artist’s desire for companionship, warmth and fulfilment in life.
Set in his spacious garden, the two statues, measuring between 1.6 and nearly 2 metres tall, stand among a group of deer sculptures he previously completed, beside a trellis of bougainvillea. Dũng has also installed a small step ladder so neighbourhood children can climb up and take photographs during the Lunar New Year festivities.
In painting, horse-themed works have also drawn attention. Nguyễn Văn Chung, Deputy Head of the Gia Lai Fine Arts Association, has received positive feedback for several recent pieces inspired by the zodiac. “Khoảng lặng” (“A Quiet Moment,” mixed media, 60 x 80 cm) is a lyrical self-portrait of a woman born in the Year of the Horse, while “Thì thầm” (“Whisper,” acrylic, 70 x 70 cm) portrays a romantic couple symbolised by two horses amid flowers.
Chung said that while horses are widely associated with strength and endurance, he chose to focus first on their gentle and affectionate nature. He is also developing a new work depicting a pair of horses galloping across open fields.
Artist Lê Nguyễn Thảo My has brought a distinctly feminine and folk-inspired style to the theme. To mark the upcoming Year of the Horse (Bính Ngọ), she created three acrylic paintings using vibrant yet tranquil colours, incorporating Central Highlands elements such as brocade patterns and reed flowers.
Inspired by a suggestion from her young daughter, also born in the Year of the Horse, Thảo My said she transformed the animal into a symbol of family love and happiness. In “Lời tỏ tình của mùa xuân” (“Spring’s Confession,” 100 x 100 cm) and “Ngựa ô thương nhớ” (“Longing Black Horse,” 80 x 100 cm), pairs of horses appear close together amid peach blossoms. In “Sắc xuân” (“Spring Colors,” 60 x 80 cm), a solitary mare gazes at a flowering rose branch, hinting at hope and promise.
“Through these works, I wish for a happy new year and for success to come galloping in,” she said, echoing a traditional Vietnamese blessing. Thảo My added that the strong engagement of artists with this year’s zodiac theme has helped create a lively and colourful spring art scene in Gia Lai.