Renowned sand artist Xiao Sixin from Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, captivated audiences at this year’s CGTN Super Night with a mesmerizing performance.
Using the flowing and shifting sands, Xiao brought to life the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, illustrating their sacred duty of watching over each year as they pass on a symbolic paper scroll.
His performance beautifully melded traditional Chinese culture with a contemporary artistic medium, allowing viewers to experience the profound heritage of the zodiac in a new light.
The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each animal represents a year in a 12-year cycle, which combines with the traditional Chinese calendar’s Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches to create a 60-year cycle.
This system embodies the flow of time and the cycle of life in Chinese philosophy, symbolizing how each year is ‘governed’ by one of the zodiac animals.
Xiao Sixin’s sand art performance not only showcased his incredible talent but also provided a bridge between the richness of traditional culture and the dynamism of modern art forms.
