Simon Ma’s moving exhibition featuring the mythical Drago Cavallo is bringing hope to underprivileged children and communities around the world
In the summer of 2022, the green lawns of Sha Tin Racecourse, alongside the usual sight of horses galloping at full speed were hundreds of figurines of small, white and plump ponies with the horns, whiskers and sharp ears of a Chinese dragon. These sculptures were also seen in Tai Kwun, the Peak, on pavements in Central , on university campuses, at Tsim Sha Tsui promenade and East Coast Park precinct. Now, the “herd” has moved on to Shanghai’s Gala Bay exhibition hall to kickstart the Drago Cavallo Travels Around the World project, which is expected to travel to eight other Chinese cities, including Beijing, before ending the world tour in Rome in September.
These adorable Drago Cavallo (or longma, which means “dragon horse” in Chinese) are Hong Kong artist Simon Ma’s latest edition of his signature dragon horse design from 2012. Back then, he was commissioned by Italian car manufacturer Ferrari to create a design for the bonnet of the F458 sports car. The limited-edition design featured a mighty Chinese dragon flying over Ferrari’s iconic prancing horse logo. Ma’s latest edition combines the two creatures into one.
“Dragons represent heaven and horses represent earth. Together, they make a harmonious pair and convey the Chinese concept of harmony”, he says. In classical Chinese literature, longma are auspicious mythical creatures that appear in the presence of a wiseman. They are also a common motif in classical Chinese ink art paintings and calligraphy.
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