The Galloping Horse

Ink on xuan paper, with brocade silk hanging scroll mounting by the artist
1180 × 525 mm (when displayed)
525 × 53 × 38 mm (rolled for storage)
2026

Inspired by a dream experienced by the artist, in which she witnessed a horse rider leap into a canyon-like landscape, knowing that a body of water lay deep below, The Galloping Horse emerged as a reflection on trust, transformation, and divine promise. In the dream, the rider and horse miraculously rose from the depths and galloped towards the sky. Interpreting this vision as a sign of encouragement, the artist incorporates the Quranic verse from Surah Ar-Rum (30:6), rendered in the broad-stroke style of Sini script:

“وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ”
(This is the promise of Allah. Allah never fails in His promise, but most people do not know.)

Created in the Year of the Horse, The Galloping Horse is among a body of works inspired by the artist’s dreams.

This work also represents the artist’s first hanging scroll mounting, created as part of her ongoing study of zhuangbiao, the traditional Chinese art of mounting and preserving calligraphy and painting. To learn more about this craft tradition, read The Art of Zhuangbiao.