KARACHI: In the 1970s, a play titled Equus by Peter Shaffer became a huge hit. It is about a disturbed young man who has an obsession with horses. But the horse has featured in art for ages in the form of sculptures and paintings with a variety of connotations.

Distinguished artist Adeela Suleman’s latest exhibition of artworks, which concluded recently at the Canvas Art Gallery, also focuses on the same subject. Its title is: My Kingdom for a Horse.

One of the intriguing aspects of the show is that it has, despite the bigness of the exhibits, an interdisciplinary feel to it. This means that Adeela has used literary, and, if one is not off the mark, mythological, references to drive her point home. Why does one say that? One says that because she begins explaining what she’s trying to achieve through the display by quoting from Shakespeare’s play Richard III when King Richard has lost control of his horse and utters the phrase ‘my kingdom for a horse’. The artist infers that at the point he realises ‘our ultimate strength lies beyond physical dominion’. References to literature or other forms of expression expand in the unmissable and eye-catching ‘Equus’ series, such as ‘Equus 2 — War and Peace’ (carved rosewood, kikar wood, leather and metal).

That said, the journey does not stop here. Adeela wants the viewer to look closely at the large-sized exhibits. The piece, ‘Equus 1’, requires special attention. The first thing that strikes you about the artwork is its size and the meticulousness with which it’s been made. Walk closer, and one can see the figure of a character trying to push something up. Sounds familiar? Now, for a moment, think about the myth of Sisyphus — that character who cheats death and as punishment is asked to push a boulder up a mountain forever.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026