In ‘From The Saddle’ Ceris Burns invites three remarkable equestriennes into conversation – Madame de Pompadour (chief mistress to King Louis XV), ‘Skittles’ (trendsetter and famed Victorian courtesan), and present-day Olympic Eventer Jonelle Price.

An audio-based installation in conversation with a vintage side-saddle, presented as a sculptural object. AI-generated voices and texts weave past and present, allowing these equestriennes to speak across time. Their fictional fireside conversation gives voice to the heart of ‘Equinity’: the shared bond that spans centuries and bodies, both human and horse.

While Burns’ practice is rooted in clay and hand-building, in this work she embraces digital technologies – including AI as a collaborator, not a tool. The boundaries of traditional craft are intentionally blurred. The artist is interested in how technology might extend empathy, rather than dilute it.

Alongside the audio piece, Burns presents a series of ceramic works: a hand-built pair of worn-out riding boots based on her own; a single earthenware horseshoe representing ‘Skittles’ – bold, stylish, and unforgettable; and a buff stoneware plate titled ‘A Dark Horse’, reflecting the influence of Madame de Pompadour – a woman whose impact on politics, patronage and equestrianism remains both overlooked and profound.

Burns offers a space for reflection – for listeners to witness the invisible ties that link us across centuries, across species, and across silence. This work aims to honour the powerful ladies within and their legacy while advocating for horse welfare by giving voice to a relationship that is too often misunderstood or romanticised.