Xinyu Han

Sisyphus by Sea

Jackson's Art Prize 2026
Oil
Canvas
120 x 150 cm

“This painting was inspired by a visit to the coast near London, where a friend and I waited by the sea for a predicted red moon. We spent hours on the beach, stacking stones as time passed, but the moon never appeared as expected. By the time it rose, it was ordinary, and I realised I would never know whether the red moon truly existed. Along the British coastline, beaches are often made of stones rather than sand, and people gather, wait, and build small structures without clear purpose. This experience led me to think about Sisyphus, and about how time and goals may ultimately be meaningless, while the act of waiting, repeating, and continuing still holds weight.”