The horses have been running from him to me for years and years, 2026

Cardboard horses and paintings, oil and oil pastel on canvas
Dimensions variable

These works in progress are part of my series about horses, where I navigate the relationship I have with my grandpa. He’s a classic man from his generation, and has never harmed me; I would say we have a very good and close relationship. But recently I found out that he used to beat horses. I care about all life, human and non-human. Finding out that someone close to me is not only passively participating in the industrial farm industry but has also actively chosen to harm animals is hard to swallow. How does finding this out change our relationship? Especially since we are not residing in the same country at this moment in time? Did I run from this problem just as the horses tried to run from him?

Photos // Laura Bikulčytė