This commission for the Chinese Gardens of Friendship involved working closely with SHFA to design 12 small scale sculptures representing the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

Hidden throughout the gardens, the sculptures form part of an interpretive trail for children, The Emperor’s Quest. The sculptures are simple and graphic, and separated into different planes, evoking the articulated forms of the Chinese Shadow puppetry.

Each animal is accompanied by a interpretive plaque, located on the ground close to the animal. The plaques are inscribed with the circular structure of the zodiac, locating the animals within the zodiac framework and defining their personality, characteristics and relationships.

Phootgraphed by Maya Vidulich