There are animals, not just horses, any creatures that you touch and understand that it's not just an animal. That there's something far greater within that body. Someone who effortlessly communicates with the Universe, controls spaces and time. Someone who's not just here to protect their human, but to open doors and show pathways.

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Satira is exactly like that. Although, this portrait isn't entirely hers, or rather not just hers. I started to paint a portrait of her mother, the incredibly beautiful Don mare, Triza. But as I began, whenever I thought about the portrait, the name Satira kept echoing in my mind, and through Triza's face, I could see Satira's attentive and slightly teasing eyes.

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Mother and daughter are undeniably similar. Yet, when you know them both well, you see how much uniqueness each embodies. Triza is beautiful and profound, and she's meant to be admired. Silently, with a sigh.

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Satira, on the other hand, is entirely different. She's like the spirit of the land she lives on. Light, joyful, incredibly sunny. She's also meant to be admired. But with entirely different sensations. Last year, she called me, and I even thought we might have a shared future. However, the clever golden girl introduced me to her sister, Sonata, not giving us a chance to pass each other by. Satira is incredibly similar to Ducya, and sometimes it even felt like I was touching my beloved Dobraya ( in translate Kind) Horse through her.

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Satira is one of those horses who isn't someone's, but her own. She chooses who will be around her and what can surround her.

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And so, Satira entered the portrait of her mother, Triza, and remained there, even though her beautiful mother is there too. While I was painting, only Satira's name echoed in my head. But when I finished, Triza's presence returned. The title for the painting only came when it found its place.

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I rarely get to see my paintings in their new homes. Even more rarely, I can witness the painting and the Place getting acquainted. A day after the painting found its Place, I heard its name. It's "Guardian." It's about the one who protects. The one who is beyond time and body. Perhaps that's why both the mother and daughter appeared in the portrait, and maybe someone else will manifest over time in this world.

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In March, I painted a diptych with Sonata's portrait and someone whom I can't recognize yet. I thought it was "The One" ( mare of my dream) but it's someone else, maybe even a stallion. When I was photographing "Guardian," I strongly felt the urge to place it together with Sonata and her friend. It's astonishing how the paintings connected as if they were puzzle pieces. And indeed, Satira and Sonata are half-sisters on their father's side, while Triza is Sonata's mother’s sister. Now, I just need to decipher the enigmatic horse on the left side of the diptych. Satira surely knows, but she won't reveal it ahead of time.

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"Guardian"

Materials: canvas, oil, gold leaf, acrylic, ink, markers.

Size: 30x40cm