(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

JD Malat Gallery Dubai is presenting Horsepower, from November 5 to 30, a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based artist Tim Kent. In this new body of work, Kent examines the historical and cultural significance of the horse – a universal symbol of power that has shaped art, society, and human innovation for millennia.

From early cave paintings to the grand civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Rome, horses have been central to agriculture, commerce, and warfare. They reappear throughout art history – from Leonardo da Vinci and George Stubbs to Edgar Degas and Rosa Bonheur – embodying physical power and symbolic role. This relationship continues into the modern age: the term 'horsepower,' coined by engineer James Watt, forever links the strength of horses to mechanical progress.

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“The title Horsepower playfully addresses the historical use of the horse in art and literature while also nodding to how we gauge the value of work,” Kent explains.“From cave wall to the modern engine, the horse has remained a constant measure of power and imagination.”

Working across large-scale painted interiors, landscapes, and invented worlds, Kent transforms historical reference into contemporary compositions that hover between reality and imagination. His works merge Renaissance perspective with modern imagery, uniting architectural precision with expressive abstraction.

Together, works such as Titan, 300 HP, Pegasus, Trojan and others trace a continuum of human ambition – from the classical to the industrial, the mythological to the mechanical. Several of these titles, also names of rocket systems used in space exploration and warfare, point to a duality that defines Kent's vision: horsepower as a measure of physical, technological, and political power. The exhibition continues his investigation into systems of value and transformation, creating spaces where past and present converge, and inviting viewers to reflect on how symbols evolve – from horse to engine to rocket – yet continue to shape our collective imagination.

“Ultimately, my hope is that viewers connect with the theme,” says Kent,“and that the work is seen not as serious but as a curious place to begin a conversation – a playful reflection on history in art and the ways we measure progress.”

Jean-David Malat, Founder of JD Malat Gallery, adds:“Tim Kent's practice bridges centuries of artistic inquiry. In Horsepower, he re-examines one of art's oldest subjects – the horse – as a lens through which to view progress, ambition, and the human condition. The exhibition resonates strongly in the Middle East, where the horse remains a timeless emblem of beauty, endurance, and cultural pride. Kent's ability to weave that spirit into a contemporary dialogue makes this body of work particularly meaningful to present in Dubai.”

Horsepower by Tim Kent runs from 5 to 30 November 2025 at JD Malat Gallery, Downtown Dubai.

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