Lis Xu’s illustration Afternoon of the Horse featured at the
5th Fire Horse Award Gala & Fundraiser

Lis Xu

Artist Statement

This painting, Afternoon of the Horse, celebrates the 2026 year of the fire horse. As a horse myself, the year is considered bad luck. Many predictions suggest that instead of taking risks, it is better to stay grounded and persistent. So, I drew this scene of response. I wanted to balance the dynamic fire horse in a moment of rest and calm, using bright orange and pink alongside a subdued violet. The orange lighting suggests a late afternoon sun as the day begins to wind down. The windows and doors are depicted with harmonious patterns and the horse forms are inspired by old children’s wooden toys from Russia. I painted this piece with watercolour- a medium where control is important, but instinct and spontaneity expresses the beauty of watercolour best. I used the wet-on-wet painting technique to bring softness into the horse forms and other details. The three windows and horses is a lucky number, as well as the print edition of 37. I hope this piece gives you the energy of fire and quiet strength found in rest.

Afternoon of the Horse illustrated by Lis Xu

The Fire Horse Award, named after Reel Asian founder Anita Lee, celebrates Asian Canadian trailblazers whose work is transformational, representational, and inspiring. Established in 2021, the award is a cornerstone of the Asian Canadian film and media arts community, honouring individuals whose vision, innovation, and dedication have made lasting contributions and left an indelible mark.