A 14-meter-tall red Dala horse from Sweden is set to become a striking new landmark on Shanghai’s North Bund waterfront this summer, China Daily reports.
From June 14 to August 31, the giant sculpture will stand at the Grand Halls in Hongkou district as the centerpiece of the exhibition A Cultural Journey: Where the Dala Horse Encounters Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage. The historic venue in the North Bund area is hosting its first-ever public art exhibition.
The Dala horse is one of Sweden’s most iconic cultural symbols, originating in the Dalarna region in the 1600s, where wooden horses were first carved as toys. Today, it is widely seen as a symbol of Swedish identity and craftsmanship.
“This wooden horse has become a cultural ambassador for Sweden and a testament to Sino-Swedish friendship,” says Li Haichao, CEO of Nordic Light (Shanghai) Brands Co Ltd, co-organizer of the exhibition.
The exhibition marks Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China and also celebrates 76 years of diplomatic relations between China and Sweden, as well as the Lunar Year of the Horse.
Inside, around 1,200 square meters feature 20 Chinese intangible cultural heritage crafts inspired by the horse motif, including ceramics, embroidery, shadow puppetry, and carvings. A bamboo-woven robotic horse highlights the meeting of tradition and technology.
“We hope the exhibition will integrate intangible cultural heritage into everyday life and make it more accessible,” says Zhu Jingbo, deputy director of the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center.
More than 50 cultural activities, including workshops, markets, and performances, will take place during the exhibition period.
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