Xu Hongfei, a famous sculptor from Guangdong Province, presented his Year of the Snake zodiac sculpture "Flying Silver Snake" at Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain, on January 30, 2025, the second day of the Chinese New Year of the Snake, drawing many citizens and tourists to appreciate the work.
The sculpture depicts a flute-playing woman with a smile who seems to be immersed in the world of music. The entire plaza appears to sway gently to her melody, while a silver snake, gracefully coiling around her, seems enchanted by the sound of the flute, dancing elegantly to the rhythm.
"Cantonese music is an integral part of Lingnan culture. The design of the chubby lady playing the flute incorporates Oriental elements, and her bun also showcases the implicit beauty of Eastern women," Xu said. Through a combination of the zodiac culture and modern art in this work, he hopes to convey more positivity and joy to the world.
To enrich Salamanca's Spring Festival celebration, Xu also presented Lingnan intangible cultural heritage displays, including Longmen farmer paintings, lion dance performances, and Chinese food-tasting experiences.
On January 31, the third day of the Chinese New Year, Xu also set up a temporary studio next to the sculpture at Plaza Mayor to draw portraits for local children.
As a regular guest at Salamanca's Spring Festival events, Xu has brought his "Chubby Lady" series of zodiac sculptures to the city for seven consecutive years. Every Spring Festival, he creates a new work for the city and debuts it here.
Carlos García Carbayo, the Mayor of Salamanca, said at the unveiling ceremony: "The Spring Festival is not only an important festival in China, but also a cultural event that the people of Salamanca look forward to every year. When we learned that Mr. Xu came here again with his new work for the Year of the Snake, all of us couldn't wait to see it live. Everyone was eager to see the sculpture in person."
Editor | Tang Xinyi (intern), He Zhen (intern), Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
Photo | Guangdong International Cultural Exchange Center
