White Horse

In White Horse,(2009) Natee Utarit turns the Western tradition of horses in art literally on its head. Horses were one of the most popular subjects in Western figurative art, from pre- historic cave paintings, to carvings in classical architecture, to the mounts of royal personnages in European paintings in the 18-19th centuries. In Thailand, these Western ideas were embraced by the monarchy, exemplified by the famous equestrian statue of King Rama VI in Bangkok.

In this work, Utarit depicts the horse as a mere plaything, choosing to capture the moment the plastic toy hits the floor. The work is perhaps a veiled commentary on the tarnished reputation of the Thai monarchy and its diminished role in Thai politics.