The bulls were put up for auction, with the proceeds going to a charity that raises funds for an art education program for rural children. The event coincided with the opening of his solo exhibition, Han Meilin Chinese Zodiac Art Exhibition, which will run through Feb 28 at the Nanshan Museum in Shenzhen.

Animals, especially the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, appear regularly in Han's creations, whatever medium he works with. For example, he designed special stamps that were issued by China Post to celebrate the Year of the Pig in 1983, the Year of the Rooster in 2017, the Year of the Pig in 2019 and the Year of the Rat in 2020. The exhibition at the Nanshan Museum shows paintings, calligraphic scrolls, sculptures and ceramics, as well as designs for furniture, clay teapots and postage stamps, which are themed around the animals of the zodiac.