‘It’s been a dream commission’

AT THE LAUNCH on Friday, artist Amy Goodman said that felt a bit unreal to see her work finally on show, and it had been a dream commission for her.

“I had a very intense year making them, then we had various delays not helped by the pandemic, so it’s a great feeling to finally see them here. The landscaping is just beginning to settle, and Icarus will have, I think, wild flowers growing around him with poppies.

“As the months go on, and it all settled, I think it will really be part of this environment.”

She said that the horses and their positioning reflected the heritage and history of the barracks, and the role that the animals played in the First World War.

“One of the first things I had was a really strong idea of having this heavier breed of horse, this light gunner that would have pulled munitions to the front, and his rearing form silhouetted against the sky.”

This then became three horses that she wanted to “flow as individual pieces as well as a group”.

“You can see my finger marks as I sculpt,” she added. “It was a dream to work on three at once that was something I never imagined I’d do in my career.”

There are little touches to look out for, including branding on the horses’ quarters and 1918 on the front hooves. There’s a reason for this too:

“I like to think that a child might turn to a parent or to a friend and say, ‘Why has he not got a name?’ and that might make people think, ‘What happened? What did they do? Why are there horses there?’ and then might just have a history lesson as well.”

And Ms Goodman said she had a wonderful feeling seeing the pieces being admired on Friday.

“It’s sort of affirming as a sculptor. Quite often you’re making these things on your own in your studio.

“And it’s the culmination of many, many months and years, and a lot of research.”