The Return

In The Return, Cleon Peterson translates an archetypal horseback warrior into sleek, blackened bronze.

The edition sits within an oeuvre of epic battle scenes – where the horse and warrior duo appear frequently amongst crisp, hard-edged outlines. Echoing stories of conquest from across history, the figure reminds us of humankind’s primal instinct for control and domination. Peterson’s practice calls attention to this dark side of human nature.

“Images and ideas like this act as a romantic fantasy promising to return people to an idealised past. In my work I highlight these connections – showing how destructive they can be.”

The sculpture is also available in a larger size.