Friesians in the Sea
“The horse lost its individuality to act with man, playing a supporting role. The purpose of our work is to recover its connection with nature, without human interference, in full freedom. Without bridle or halter. Feeling the wind in the hair and the water through the body. We put horses in the spotlight as protagonists”.
Their most famous series is “Friesians in the Sea” with Friesians horses, one of the most beautiful and oldest breeds in the world, surrounded by the sea waves, in a deserted beach on the south coast of São Paulo State in Brazil. The Friesians were portrayed in many paintings of the Middle Ages, took part in The Crusades and acted in films about that time, such as “Ladyhawke”. Native from northern Holland, they are tall, strong and have an intense black color, that even shines. They are also widely used in dressage competitions for their beauty and elegance of movements. The horses that took part in the shooting were born from matrices imported from Holland. Theirs names are “Sietse” and “Prius” and they are dressage champions in Brazil.
“The inspiration came from the wild horses of Camargue, France, that usually run free along the seashore. The horse and the sea have a lot in common. Both are strong, mysterious, temperamental and very beautiful. The sea can be calm and charming, but it contains in itself an indomitable force, which is an analogy to the horse in freedom”. Says Ricardo, who spent part of his childhood on a farm in Mato Grosso State, where he learned to decode the secrets of horses behavior. “When they lay back their ears, for example, it is better to move away to avoid being kicked.”
It was the first time these two horses enter the sea, but soon they get used to the waves. The shooting was supported by trainers, who chose the best location. Even the dark clouds that appeared on the horizon, announcing the arrival of a storm, helped in the composition of the photo, making the images even more dramatic and magical.
Ricardo Zaviasky, Brazil, Sao Paulo
