Robyn Bardas’s exhibition ‘Bone Is Bone’ at Te Atamira in Queenstown explores the profound connections between humans and horses, using sculpture, video, and written work to delve into relationships across species and within human communities. Initially intending to sculpt life-sized busts of women, Bardas shifted focus after working with a horse skull in her studio, discovering a shared anatomical commonality that inspired her to create three life-sized horse busts and smaller sculptures. Her practice is deeply informed by natural horsemanship, emphasizing emotional and physical communication between humans and horses.

Beyond showcasing Bardas’s bond with horses, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on broader themes of connection and coexistence. Through detailed anatomical studies, immersive videos, and sensory elements like hay, Bardas highlights the subtle, often overlooked ways humans and other species have co-evolved and thrived together, framing connection as essential to survival and mutual enjoyment rather than solely about horses themselves.