Everyone Has A Horse Phase

At 24 years old, Kogachi’s horsey phase is somewhat delayed -her new body of horse themed works have a nostalgic 90’s Saddle Club appeal.

After collecting ‘80s racehorse magazines, Kogachi was intrigued by how the publication had depicted these racing icons; relaxed, still and without their riding gear. Taking inspiration from the magazine portraits, the horses are painted in Kogachi’s signature flat, naive style. The horses have comical eyebrows, human looking eyes and irregular shapes shadows. 

The artist has painted retired New Zealand race horse Le Bec Fin’s frame baby blue with daisies, while in another work Phar Lapcarelessly grazes amongst bright red apples with a love heart adorned on his chest. Other large-scale works included in the exhibition see the artist embellishing canvases with ceramic hearts and cartoonish horse heads. 

Ceramics are a new inclusion to Claudia Kogachi’s artistic practice, she recently undertook an apprenticeship at Dryburgh Pottery with Kirstin Dryburgh which has inspired and informed much of this suite of work. 

Kogachi has exhibited her paintings recently at the 2019 Beijing Biennale. In 2019, she was the winner of the New Zealand Painting & Printmaking Award. Her works are included in significant public and private collections. This is her third solo exhibition at Sanderson.