BERNI

The story of the last days of a show-jumping horse after being retired in a field in France.

 

Cascais/Portugal 2020

Fontainebleau/France 2020, 2021, 2022

Digital format

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BERNI is a series of photographs that narrates the intimate story of a horse transitioning from its last days as a professional in Portugal to the first two years of its retirement in a field in France. Through its journey, the work invites reflection on retirement, the natural state of being, and the essence of freedom. BERNI’s transformation becomes a mirror of our own transitions, exploring the beauty and melancholy of leaving behind a life of effort and dedication. In adapting to a more free and wild environment, we discover not only the joy of a new beginning but also the reconciliation with the past and the celebration of an existence in harmony with nature.

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“Berni was born in Morocco and went to France just after being a show jumping champion at age 5. He spent some time in France but his former owner decided to send him back to Morocco. On his way back a professional riding coach saw him at the stable he was doing his stop-over for his trip, and he thought Berni would be a great fit for one of his clients, a lady who did show jumping. The lady fell in love with Berni and purchased him. For 11 years they trained together, and developed a special relationship of complicity and love.

According to her, “he is quite a nervous horse and spooked for no reason but at the same time was really sweet and loves certain people. He has a real personality”. Unfortunately after a serious accident she decided it was time to end her journey as a rider. It was a difficult decision as she had been with Berni for so long, it felt like their relationship had to come to an end. Berni was 19 years old, which meant he was too old to be purchased by a new owner to continue show jumping, so she decided it was best to retire him as well and send him to a field with other retired horses in a freer environment.

This is a project in progress I have the pleasure to watch develop closely and I was lucky to have been there at crucial moments to photograph it. The photos were taken in February 2020 at the last day they spent together at the stables before his journey to the field, and in August 2020 when they met for the first time, after Berni had been adapting to his new retired life, on his first winter in France in 2020 and on his second summer on the fields in France in 2021.”

Text: Emilia Brandão Carneiro

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“Berni has had his glory, but now those days are over. Brandão’s images exude in glamour. Berni is, sure enough, as imposing and classy as can be. Yet, a photo of his face reveals a certain air of melancholy, and there is another one where his body is partially covered by shades of leaves: such a sad, nostalgic mood. As the great portraitist that she is, Brandão knows how to depict her characters at their very best, but also in honesty, and with tenderness. And this is pretty much what we find in every single work produced by this artist: portraits of nature, of cities, of people, of animals, of objects, of spaces. Unashamedly romantic as they are not afraid to get close, and to find beauty.”

Text: Ana Araújo, Galeria F&deO

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EXHIBITIONS and AWARDS

 

– Honorable Mention, 19th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, 22

– Selected in PhotoVogue

– LensCulture, Editor’s Choice – Emerging Talent Award, 23

– LensCulture, Editor’s Choice – Photography Art Award, 22

– INTERIHOTEL Fair, Madrid, 22

– Group Exhibition, Vivir con Arte IV, Gunni & Trentino, Madrid, 23

– Group Exhibition, Transportarte, AN Concept, Madrid, 21

– Group Exhibition, Catalogue, F&deO Gallery, Madrid, 22

– Lorna de Santos Studio, Madrid, 24