Room 13

This video installation arose from a visit Mat Collishaw made to the restoration works at the Hortensia Herrero Art Centre, where he was able to view the remains that had been found of the ancient Roman Circus of Valencia. This led him to construct a work consisting of an LED screen hung from the ceiling, recalling the shape of the Roman circus, on which he projects a series of horses starting to walk, then trotting, and ending up in front of an excited crowd that encourages them and cheers them on, in a clear reference to chariot races. Collishaw explains that during the Roman Empire ‘one of the galvanizing forces that functioned as a way of pacifying the populace was the elaborate organization of entertainment and games, and gladiatorial combats and chariot races were the main attractions in the arena. However, despite these advances, the Romans could hardly be described as considerate and compassionate. There is suffering in seeing a horse, free to play and graze, being co-opted into the mad frenzy of this theatre of entertainment. The horse’s throbbing sensuality was undeniably part of the attraction of these races, and the madness of an excited crowd is an irresistible and seductive spectacle.’