Gift Horse
Hans Haacke
"Gift Horse" at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt am Main
The "gift horse"
"Gift Horse" was originally created by Hans Haacke in 2014 for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in London. The monumental bronze sculpture, twice the size of a real horse, shows a skeletonized horse with a digital loop around its front leg that displays live DAX prices in real time. The sculpture takes a critical look at topics such as capitalism, power structures and economic systems and satirically addresses the close connection between political power and economic interests. After attracting a great deal of attention in London, the work was shown for various exhibitions worldwide and was installed by us in the public rotunda of the Schirn Kunsthalle in October 2024.
The experts from Arnlod AG and InnoLED during the production phase of the digital loop
Frankfurt stock exchange prices in real time
The original digital loop had been affected by water damage over the years and had to be completely remade. Our team at Arnold AG developed a precise solution to faithfully restore the functionality and design of the loop. The new loop was made from laser-cut aluminum sheets, with sufficient space inside for the cabling and LED fixtures. The entire electronics were developed in close cooperation with the company InnoLED, which was responsible for both the programming and the control of the LED display. Particular attention was paid to the weather resistance of the components in order to prevent future damage caused by moisture.
View from above of the “Gift Horse” in the rotunda of the Frankfurt Schirn
Technical challenges and solutions
One of the biggest challenges in the new production of the loop was the exact positioning of the LEDs inside the housing. We originally tested neodymium magnets to attach the LEDs, but found that this method did not provide the required precision. Instead, our manufacturing team developed a solution using galvanized steel strips that allowed for flexible and stable alignment of the LEDs. Once the metalwork was completed and the final electronics integrated, the loop was finished with a weather-resistant powder coating, all parts were then assembled and subsequently mounted on the leg. We are proud to have contributed to this important work of art and are delighted to have successfully completed another challenging project. Our thanks go to all those involved who contributed to the success of this restoration with their expertise and commitment.
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