Can you feel the tension radiating from the bronze? Here stands “Häst som rullat runt och som reser sig,” a sculpture by Asmund Arle. This isn’t just any horse. It’s a horse struggling to rise.
Asmund Arle grew up on a farm in Skåne. He understood animals intimately. Arle repeatedly portrayed them in vulnerable positions in his art. His sculptures weren’t the triumphant rider-on-horse statues we often see. Arle focused on the individual animal. He captured their unique personalities.
Arle once said his art highlights the animal that obeys. He said his focus is always on a specific individual. He saw animals as distinct personalities.
Look closely at the sculpture’s muscles. See the strain in its neck. You can almost feel the effort. Arle captures the horse in a fragile moment. A slight push could send it tumbling back down.
Arle’s connection to horses ran deep. His father was a harsh man. Asmund often sought refuge with the family horse. Once, his father threw stones at him and the horse because the plowing wasn’t straight enough. Arle was more upset that the horse was struck. This experience profoundly impacted his art. His work often explored vulnerability especially in animals. Arle aimed to express the defenseless and the frightened.
This sculpture “Häst som rullat runt och som reser sig” embodies this. It captures a moment of struggle. It is also a story of resilience.
Interestingly, “Häst som rullat runt och som reser sig” is Arle’s last work. It leaves the viewer questioning. Is the horse playful or vulnerable? It depends on your perspective.
While in France during the 1950s, Arle encountered the sculptures of Rodin and Giacometti. He was drawn to Giacometti’s sense of fragility. This feeling is evident in Arle’s sculptures.
Around “Häst som rullat runt och som reser sig,” you will notice another artwork. It’s “Kärlek på sju språk” or “Love in Seven Languages”. This piece was created by Lizzie Olsson-Arle. She was Asmund Arle’s wife. Her work features seven circular terrazzo plates. Four have different-height pedestals that also serve as seats. The word “love” is inscribed in seven languages. These languages represent the predominant communities in the area in 1994. They include Arabic Finnish Chinese Swedish Greek Turkish and English. This artwork serves as a call to show love to others across national borders.
These two artworks are unique. It is because they are the only instances where the couple’s art interacts.
Arle rarely dated his works. He often created various versions of the same theme over decades. This makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact date of each piece. A variation of this sculpture was displayed at the Konstakademien in 1972 and again in 1980.
Take a moment to appreciate “Häst som rullat runt och som reser sig.” It is more than bronze. It’s a story of vulnerability strength and the enduring bond between humans and animals. It’s a testament to Arle’s artistic vision.