Wild horses: Sculptor's moving tribute to brother's epilepsy and autism
Photos: Turning childhood trauma into art
Tess Dumon's life-size horse sculptures were suspended from the ceiling in the atrium at London's Central St. Martins art school.
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Photos: Turning childhood trauma into art
The French postgraduate art student's sculpture is titled "Stabat Mater (Lorasifar, Depakin, Tegretol & Circadin)." It was inspired by her older brother's life-long struggle with epilepsy and autism. Each horse is named after the four medicines (listed in brackets in the title) prescribed to control his epilepsy.
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Photos: Turning childhood trauma into art
The equine-themed work also relates back to her brother Louis' experience with horse therapy, which can help mentally and physically disabled people improve their strength, balance and motor coordination.
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Photos: Turning childhood trauma into art
"He started doing the horse therapy when he was 15 and he's still doing it," Dumon explains. "It is the central theme in my work."
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Photos: Turning childhood trauma into art
Dumon was going to do a business management degree before being persuaded by her parents to study art.
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Photos: Turning childhood trauma into art
Dumon is halfway through a two-year Masters degree at the Royal College of Art in London.
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Photos: Turning childhood trauma into art
Her latest equine-related work was commissioned by Ascot Racecourse, which wanted a bold sculpture for the King George VI meeting on July 24-25.
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