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That Way!

That Way!  Bronze, 2022. 17 x 17 x 10 inches (43 x 43 x 25 cm) 

That Way! is a contemporary bronze sculpture by Beatriz Gerenstein that explores the tension between personal will, instinct, and external influences. Depicting a rider mounted backward on a horse while pointing in the opposite direction of its movement, the sculpture reflects the challenges of decision-making, and the human struggle to remain faithful to one's chosen path amid conflicting forces.

That Way!, contemporary bronze sculpture by Beatriz Gerenstein depicting a rider seated backward on a horse while pointing in the opposite direction. The artwork symbolizes personal determination, leadership, free will, instinct, decision-making, and the tension between individual goals and external influences.
That Way!, contemporary bronze sculpture by Beatriz Gerenstein depicting a rider seated backward on a horse while pointing in the opposite direction. The artwork symbolizes personal determination, leadership, free will, instinct, decision-making, and the tension between individual goals and external influences.
That Way!, contemporary bronze sculpture by Beatriz Gerenstein depicting a rider seated backward on a horse while pointing in the opposite direction. The artwork symbolizes personal determination, leadership, free will, instinct, decision-making, and the tension between individual goals and external influences.
That Way!, contemporary bronze sculpture by Beatriz Gerenstein depicting a rider seated backward on a horse while pointing in the opposite direction. The artwork symbolizes personal determination, leadership, free will, instinct, decision-making, and the tension between individual goals and external influences.
That Way!, contemporary bronze sculpture by Beatriz Gerenstein depicting a rider seated backward on a horse while pointing in the opposite direction. The artwork symbolizes personal determination, leadership, free will, instinct, decision-making, and the tension between individual goals and external influences.

In That Way!, Beatriz Gerenstein transforms a familiar image—the rider and horse—into a compelling metaphor for human determination and inner conflict. At first glance, the composition appears playful and even humorous. A rider sits upright upon a horse, yet instead of facing forward, he is mounted backward, looking in the opposite direction of the animal's movement. Extending his arm with confidence, he points decisively toward a destination he wishes to reach.

The horse, however, appears to have other intentions. Its body moves in one direction while the rider points toward another, creating an immediate sense of contradiction and tension. Yet upon closer inspection, the horse pauses and turns its head toward the rider's gesture, suggesting a moment of reflection, negotiation, and possible change. The sculpture captures a suspended instant between resistance and agreement, instinct and intention.

Through this simple yet evocative scene, Gerenstein explores a universal human experience. The horse may be understood as a symbol of instinct, habit, emotion, or the powerful forces that shape our behavior. The rider represents conscious will, reason, aspiration, and the desire to direct one's life according to personal values and goals. The dialogue between the two becomes a reflection on the challenges we all face when our aspirations collide with internal impulses or external pressures.

The work can also be interpreted in a broader social context. The rider's gesture may represent individual conviction, while the horse embodies the influence of tradition, society, public opinion, or collective expectations. In this reading, That Way! becomes a meditation on independence, courage, and the difficulty of maintaining one's direction when confronted by competing demands.

Characteristic of much of Gerenstein's work, the sculpture combines accessibility, symbolism, and subtle humor. Its elegant forms invite viewers to smile, while its deeper meaning encourages reflection on choice, freedom, responsibility, and the complex relationship between desire and action. Ultimately, That Way! reminds us that life's journey often involves balancing opposing forces and finding harmony between where we are being pulled and where we truly wish to go.

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