We are delighted to introduce Steve Winterburns latest passion project, equestrian sculpture – All that I have given.
After spending years around horses, both for study and pleasure, Steve has made many deep bonds with these alluring animals. This journey has led to him having a deep vested interested in the equestrian welfare, which is where the inspiration for this emotive sculpture emerged.
For thousands of years, the human and equine bond has been pivotal to all aspects of our progress and day to day life; from work horses to sport horses and even just companions. No matter what we asked, they delivered. However, throughout the years and even in recent times horse welfare has become a pressing issue, and with Steve having a passion for this and conservation he wanted to create a piece highlighting this.
Steve wanted to capture a sombre and delicate aura with this artwork, encapsulating the fragility of nature in an animal that has had a robust and resilient image throughout our history. The composition of the piece head down and slight give at the knee, as though weary with no more to offer, draws you in to connect with the work and moves the audience right away. Steve’s commanding and expressive tooling on this piece generate a feel of power and strength to the horse, which is juxtaposed to the airy composition. This purposeful contrast highlights the tenacity of these animals always showing a galvanised façade, even though behind that they may be weakened. To accentuate this, Steve has sculpted the far side of the horse as though it is wearing away and degrading with time like an old artifact, part of the ear missing and only half a leg, which adds a potency to the narrative of this artwork and a contemporary dynamism to its anatomy.
Though based around a very important message of horse welfare, there is also a deeper allegorical meaning to this piece of art for Steve. Watching how the world has changed over the past three decades of working in the fine art industry, how the traditional art forms of sculpture and painting are falling by the wayside, whilst gimmick art installations sell for millions and AI technology makes everyone with an idea an artist. He wanted this sculpture to be a metaphor for the modern artist, giving all to a world that no longer appreciates conventional art, so came the name “All That I Have Given”.
