ABOUT THE WORK

Great art " knows no country" — and can bring viewer beyond place and time. Andres Barrioquinto may or may not have been inspired by an ancient European fairytale of a peahen that becomes a beautiful princess and rides away on an enchanted horse to escape a dragon. Horses often take place of their masters, warriors, or warlocks; in this case, the most famous black stallion belonged to King Alexander the Great. This portraitof a princess and her beloved is magnificently romantic, and Barriquinto weaves a lyrical love story. "When Horses Gallop," they fly to the heavens on the wings of love. As part of the unnamed series of paintings that includes “Goodbye Horses,” “When Horses Gallop” further explores folk tales’ role in humanity. By sharing the same beliefs and traditions which are shared through oral tradition, we connect with each other in our communities. In this painting, a human-peahen hybrid embraces a black stallion, a symbol of strength, empowerment, and inspiration. The peahen’s feathers seem a little raised, hinting that the stallion is galloping bravely towards a brightly-lit unknown. The show of bravery also raises the interest of a pride of peacocks who all follow the pair in their quest for a seemingly better future. The scene reinforces the idea in “Goodbye Horses” that while it is true that legends come and go, there still remains hope for our mythical creatures. As one of the prominent artists in the Philippines’ dynamic art scene, Andres Barrioquinto has showcased his works at various art fairs, galleries, and auction houses all over the world, in cities such as Busan, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Manila, Singapore, and Taipei.