JOCKEY VÁNA

Horse racing has always drawn me in with its raw energy, tension, and relentlessness. I sometimes watch races on TV, and a few times, I have stood right by the track, inhaling the scent of sweaty horses, hearing the whip crack, the shouts of the jockeys, the cheering and despair. There is calm and chaos, strength and fragility, admiration and sorrow. I am fascinated by the bravery of the jockeys and the fateful vulnerability of these noble animals.

This study is an attempt to capture the movement and tension of a racing moment in its purest form. The jockey and horse—an inseparable pair—are stylized into geometric shapes, yet still convey the race’s dynamic energy. The brown tangram-like horse is stretched in mid-air, while the jockey in a checkered jersey shifts his weight forward. The landscape blurs in motion.

I drew inspiration from the legendary jockey Josef Váňa—a symbol of endurance and determination. Like horse racing itself, this painting balances between controlled order and untamed energy.