Neck Shot- copyright issue Mixed Media

This image features a silhouette of a polo player mounted on a horse in mid-action, poised to hit a small ball on the ground with a long mallet, set against a neutral-toned background. This image can viewed as seen, simply a silhouette of a mounted polo player, however a more considered evaluation allows us a deeper insight into what is presented. Mezo American cultures on first sight of Conquistadors mounted on horses saw them as fantastical, mythic creatures. Unable to distinguish man from beast they percieved some outlandish two headed centaur like creature. This silhouetted presentation allows us an insight into that early misconception.

Polo itself is derived from the practice of mounted victorious warriors using the severed heads of their vanquished adversaries in a post battle celebration. We can percieve an echo of this in the frozen shadowlike poise of both horse and rider. The complicated and symbolic relationship between equines and humans operates on many levels and in this work the artist represents that in a clinical yet consumer friendly manner.