Appraisal of Tom Chambers Maritime Sentry

Describe: In the foreground of this art piece is a young girl, no older than 8, riding a black horse through the water. On their right are another three young girls swimming in the water. The girl riding the horse looks cold and wet, as though she was just swimming herself. She is looking down at the girls swimming with an almost reproachful look. In the background of this art piece, the expanse of the ocean and plain yellowy sky. The background is a pale, dull colour that gives a empty and cold feeling to this piece. However, the black horse is in stark contrast to not only the background but the young girl as she is wearing white. 

Analyse: The colours in this art work are complementary. The mood is cold as the colours are mostly cool colours, the light blue water and light white. The horse's dark, black colouring presents a strong contrast to the rest of the neutral colour scheme. Black horse's usually represent power, strength and a quality of viciousness. The fact that the horse is not bridled suggests that it has freedom, yet it is letting the girl ride it so it must be giving her some dominion over itself. This work is balanced and space creates depth in the background of the sea. There is movement in the water by the way it ripples and through the horse as it moves through the water is creating waves. The focal point of the piece is the horse and the girl combined as the contrast between the white and black creates draws the viewers attention to both.

Interpret: The contrasting colours and height difference between the girl on the horse and the girls in the water suggests segregation between them.Also, her facial expressions express cold and disgruntled emotions. The way she looks down at the girls and her facial expressions suggest she is trying to drive them away. The dark reflection in the water suggests the girls are being driven away from the horses dark presence. Tom Chambers is trying to communicate a connection between the dominance humans have over animals, particularly the marwari horse as they are near extinction. The title maritime sentry suggests the girl controls the water/sea. 

Evaluate: I find this piece is cold and confronting. I can see the connection between the horse and the girl and the power she is given when riding the horse. The girls are all the same, equal yet the power she has sets them apart. This segregates them and gives meaning to the piece. In this piece an innocent child freely rides the horse but she misuses this power only to abuse others. She is equal to the other girls and was only just previously swimming in the water. Now that she rides the horse she has power over the others and can easily use it against them. Hence why thy are swimming away.