Exhibition lands in the middle of a mall, reining in art lovers and seniors, slowing down rushed shoppers, and igniting the imaginations of children

In a bustling shopping mall, several horse sculptures strike various poses, their quiet presence compels hurried shoppers to slow down and take a look.

A food delivery rider pauses to closely examine them; parents point out the horses to their children, spinning imaginary tales; and a group from an amateur senior citizen arts troupe begins dancing spontaneously before the artworks. Nearby, a shopper strolling through the mall sits at an open piano and plays a casual melody.

Curator and sculptor Sun Longben watches all of this with a smile. He feels gratified that these sculptural works have found a new space for expression.

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These scenes unfold at the International Sculpture Art Exhibition recently held at Beijing's Inzone Harmony. Running from Jan 1 to Feb 28, throughout the Chinese New Year holiday, the exhibition brings together 75 sculptures by artists from China, Russia, and the United States. Admission is free, allowing visitors to encounter art while doing their shopping.

"It's an exhibition for the public,"Sun says.

Sun studied sculpture in Russia at the Saint Petersburg Repin Academy of Arts and the Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, earning a doctoral degree. He now works at the Chinese National Academy of Arts. The current exhibition features not only his work but also pieces by his mentors and peers.

In celebration of 2026 and the Year of the Horse, the mall's first floor is dedicated to equine sculptures.

The largest and most striking piece depicts a horse wearing an ornate saddle, lowering its head to drink water. To help the sculpture blend naturally with the mall's environment, it is surrounded by a delicate arrangement of flowers and grass. Pavel Shevchenko, one of Russia's premier animal sculptors, created the piece.

Another highlight is a series of winged horses, including refined sculptures by Russian artist Sergey Kubasov, who has been fascinated by horses his whole life, and "even believed he was a horse in a past life", Sun adds.

Shevchenko, who passed away in 2021, and Kubasov, who died in 2004, were both professors at the Repin Academy and Sun's teachers during his time studying in Russia. When Sun first arrived in 2003, he was struck by the "realism" and the "internal power" of their work.

"They believed art is non-replicable. Every piece is unique, and you must have your own subjective understanding of whatever you create," Sun explains.

His years in Russia profoundly reshaped his artistic philosophy, particularly the Western emphasis on perspective and structure. "A good sculpture should feel complete from every angle."

After returning to China, Sun continued to visit his teachers in Russia until they both passed away. He describes the long learning process as a gradual transmission of techniques, with each visit and each lesson contributing to his mastery.

Among Sun's own horse-related works on display is The Strategist Sun Bin. As he puts it, the piece "applies Russian methods while adding Chinese romanticism". The sculpture depicts Warring States Period (475-221 BC) military strategist Sun Bin, who, despite his injuries, rides in a chariot through the clouds.

The work blends sharp lines and geometric forms with traditional Chinese "auspicious cloud" patterns, merging Eastern and Western aesthetics.

Sun Longben speaks humbly about this fusion, admitting he does not know whether it is entirely "right". Still, he hopes that by putting what he learned in Russia into practice, he can at least offer a reference for future sculpture students.

Another of his works, Straying Deep into the Lotus Bloom, takes its title from a famous classical poem. The bronze sculpture depicts withered, intertwined lotus leaves from late summer, with a figure hidden among them. It reflects the traditional Chinese literati ideal of "staying true to oneself and eschewing fame and wealth".

The exhibition also includes Sun Longben's latest series in which natural stones are embedded into 3D-printed sculptures. The contrast, he explains, represents an ongoing dialogue between nature and technology, uniqueness and reproducibility.

Notably, there are no written explanations for any of the works at the exhibition. "They're meant for the public. There's no need for so many barriers," he says.

His friends, upon learning that their sculptures would be displayed in a shopping mall, were delighted, remarking, "Art has entered everyday life."

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Fan Xiaojun, from the mall's marketing department, notes that while they usually rely on bright colors for holiday decorations, this year they chose a more modern, minimalist approach to highlight the sculptures as public preferences evolve.

Despite initial worries about potential damage, Fan says the public has been incredibly respectful during the exhibition's first 20 days, and the sculptures have become popular "check-in" spots on social media.

For the members of the amateur senior arts troupe, who are retirees over 60, the exhibition has become a backdrop for their rehearsals. "We just had lunch in the mall and saw this beautiful exhibition," one member says. "It's lovely."

Bai Shuhao contributed to this story.