To mark his showcase as Coworth Park, Ascot, we interviewed the artist Johannes Neilsen. During the interview he reflects on the timeless spirit of horses and what he hopes people feel when encountering his sculptures at Coworth Park.

Hello. My name is Johannes Nielsen. I’m a sculptor from Sweden, and here in my studio in Beijing I would like to talk a little about my art.

Q. Exhibiting your work at Coworth Park, feels like a perfect setting — what does it add to the story?

I was very honoured to be showcasing my sculptures at Coworth Park, a place where many people already appreciate this beautiful animal, the horse. I couldn’t imagine a better place to show my work.

Q. What do you hope people feel when they encounter your sculptures?

When someone is standing in front of my artworks, I’ve never been interested in directing people to feel or think a certain way. For me, it’s about creating a space that feels true and honest.

Q.Horses are such powerful, timeless subjects — what pulled you towards them?

The horse has always been interesting to me. Ever since I was a child I grew up surrounded by horses. I was fascinated by their shape and by their movements. I also sculpt human figures, and when I do that, it’s often because there’s something I want to understand about myself. But when I sculpt horses, it feels more like a representation of nature – and the beauty of nature.

Q.How long have you been sculpting Horses?

My very first sculpture was a horse, and still today when I sculpt horses it is purely about the pleasure of volume, flesh, movement – and the presence of this beautiful creature.

Q.What influences or personal experiences shape the way you see and portray horses?

One very specific influence for me has been a bronze horse made by Degas, which I saw in a museum in Dublin almost 30 years ago. It was broken and put back together, playful and gentle. It seemed to have everything and nothing at the same time. It spoke to me in a very unexpected way. When I realised that figurative sculpture – and especially a horse sculpture – could communicate like that, I thought: this is what I want to do. I want to try to reach that level of communication through something as simple as a horse sculpture.

Q.Your pieces capture both strength and calm — how do you find that balance when sculpting?

When sculpting, I am always searching for contrasts – for a kind of dichotomy. Sculpture is very much about weight, yet I try to make weight feel weightless. For me, the horse can be strength, chaos, and power, but on the other side of that it can also be peace and calm. I am always trying to find that balance, that contrast.

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day.

— Johannes Nielsen

Watch the full interview on Instagram
Collecting or press enquiries, please contact [email protected]/ +44 7570 992860