Ontography of a Horse is an artwork, which aims to visualize a small amount of the connections and information a single animal bears. Ian Bogost defines the concept of ontography as following:
“Ontography is a practice of increasing the number and density, one that sometimes opposes the minimalism of contemporary art. Instead of removing elements to achieve the elegance of simplicity, ontography adds (or simply leaves) elements to accomplish the realism of multitude. It is a practice of exploding the innards of things—be they words, intersections, shopping malls, or creatures. This “explosion” can be as figurative or as literal as you like, but it must above all reveal the hidden density of a unit.”
(Bogost 2012, 58).
In the Ontography of a horse I have collected information about the horse I have worked with during the Experiment #7. There are countless levels of knowledge connected to this horse: my personal experiences when interacting with it, the practical know-how of taking care of a horse, the history of horses in Finland and abroad, the mythological accounts of horses. Although I am aware that I can never reach the horse as such in spite of how much I write about it (and, if I could reach it that would not happen by writing but rather by being with it), I consider this project illuminating when it brings into light the endless amount of practical and theoretical information connected to a horse.
The ontography is a continuing artwork and will expand during time.
Hover the cursor on top of the words to get more information (does not work on touch screens)
* Muzzle *
* Legs * White star *
* Cindy * Finnhorse *
* BE driver’s license *
* Massage * Driving a horse *
* Pony harness racing *
* Shoeing * Mouth * Grooming *
* Hay * Equine influenza *
* Studded shoes * Crupper *
* Breast collar * Stirrups *
* Water * Cleaning up the stall *
* Molting *
* Hoofs * Laminitis *
* Gallop * Ground work *
* Bell boot * Bit * Bit contact *
* Pawing * Loading a horse to a trailer *
* Rug * Sulky * Valo *
* Pasture * Exercise *
* Reliability * Western riding *
* Overcheck * Terret * Field shelter *
* Breeching strap *
* Dark red chestnut * Backing *
* Sexual symbol * Trotting horse *
* Mud fever * Tack room * Withers *
* Shin boots * Mare *
* Snowballs * Peat moss *
* Carriage driving * Colic * Shaping *
* Tendon problems * Mud * Sleipnir *
* Driving to the stables *
* Driving reins * Coaching *
* Co-owning * Washing *
* Stable Shift * Urjala *
* Equine-Assisted Social Education *
* Being present * Walking with a horse *
* Horse as a vehicle *
* Relationship with a horse *
* Tail * Prins Oliwier *
* Shetland Pony * Happiness
* Skill * Jenni * Electrolytes
* In the middle of the night *
* Knowledge * Clipping * Equipment *
* Learning * Animal who likes humans *
* Competing * Repetition * Money *
* Change of plans *
* Responsibility * Breeding *
* Famous horses at Smithsonian *
* Playhorses *
* Horse Camps * Work *
* Fear * Shared moment *
* Tchekhov’s novel “Sorrow” *
* Pegasos * Dandy *
* Interesting persons *
* Peace *
* … *
Everyday Anomalies 