My work explores body politics within the paradox of control and freedom, under the
guise of the iconography of the horse, through collage and mixed media.
The horse serves as a starting point for exploring both historical and contemporary
events. Historically, the relationship between humans and horses has been used to
represent human power, freedom and status. But who has freedom?

The horse, as we know it today, has evolved in the ideals of humans, using in my
practice the technique of scangraphy, where images become distorted as a way of
showing changes in the landscape and the horse’s form over time, incorporating
movement to the still images. An element of randomness is included through moving the
images when scanning, relinquishing my own artistic control.

Drawing inspiration from artists such as Sidney Nolan, Sybil Ruppert, Hieronymus Bosch,
George Silk and the Dada movement, who encapsulate a transformative tone in their
work, along with demonstrating some forms of extremes in life, weather that is within
movement, a way of life, landscapes or methodology.

The drive behind my work is trying to capture the never-ending and cyclical patterns of
nature through extremes and contrasts.

Instagram: @helenaajohnn