Joanne GG Barrett is a Modern Equine Artist who explores the relationship of our demonic and angelic traits, through the essence and spirit of the horse. This association is an artistic expression of Carl Jung’s structure of the psyche, where the relationship of personal unconscious and collective unconscious, ego and self, the shadow and projection and anima and animus are paramount to an understanding of the human condition as experienced through the dynamic being of the horse.

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For centuries humanity has shared a deep understanding with the horse, and it is said that "a horse is the mirror to our soul, we might not like what we see in the mirror" (Buck Brannahan). Barrett recognises that all creatures equally have a desire to be free, and this is depicted throughout all of her work. However, having an interest in psychology, typically more so Carl Jung, as above, and his theory on the collective unconscious, she believes her work comes from a deeper understanding of the desire for freedom in both man and horse. She has also adapted the two separate elements of human nature. The wanting for inner piece (true spirit, angel) and the demon that lies within us all (ego and shadow both out of balance), that blocks this ability for inner peace.

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The constant struggle from dark to light and light to dark is shown in her work with shadows within the pieces. The strive is always to bring the light and dark into a state of harmony and an echo can be seen in the work of M.C. Escher, particularly in his classic work of 1960 – ‘heaven and hell’. More controversially, Barrett’s work seems to encapsulate some of the esoteric concepts of the balance of dark and light as expressed in the Knights Templar ‘Baucent’ and the Freemasonic ‘Tessellated Pavement’.

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Throughout history man has depicted darkness within his artwork. With shock art, political and demonic arts being popular. Happy art seems to be given less credit. Yet finding happiness and joy is one of the hardest things for humanity to achieve ~ John Kratt

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Barrett has a deep passion for our equine friends and understands them on a deeper level. She understands that we project all the aspects within the structure of our psyches onto our domestic companions. In her creations, she is able to express the human psyche between dark and light, between demon and angel, through the love of horses.