DADA THE TROJAN HORSE 2011

Carrie Reichardt & Nick Reynolds

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Early in 2011 Reichardt was one of ten artists who were asked to take part in the Fine Form Horse Parade. It was an unusual exhibition of life size horses and sees each artist faced with a blank canvas, a resin horse, in a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Cheltenham Festival. Carrie chose to collaborate on the project with sculptor Nick Reynolds.

Together they transformed their horse into a highly crafted and politicised artwork. The horse’s head was re-structured to resemble a skull, whilst the body was covered in ceramic tiles detailing the history of horses and the atrocities they have undergone at the hands of men. These included statistics from the animal rights group Animal Aid on fatal injuries to racehorses. Organised by Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, the Fine Form: Horse Parade, a special exhibition of unique equine art, was on show from Monday 1 August 2011.

The artwork which was “supposed to celebrate Cheltenham’s historic racing links” was placed at Cheltenham to provide a point of discussion, and after being placed in a prestigious spot in the Long Gardens opposite the Municipal Offices, the sculpture was vandalised, and subsequently moved to Beechwood shopping centre.

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