I’ve been interested in Egyptian artifacts since the King Tut exhibit travelled the US in 1979. Of particular interest to me were the “canopic vessels", though I enjoyed the exhibit in its entirety. In regard to the vessels, I wondered whether anyone found these items comical in their times, or if they just thought it was a great idea to take the various organs from the deceased, and put them in separate jars that sported the images of local animals.  

 

I like horses, as is evident from my works, and I felt that the animal would make not only a better bearer of ones organs into the afterlife than say, a baboon, but in the process, be a bit more familiar of a ride. Death is frightening enough, without the fear of spending eternity in the bowels of a baboon. And speaking of bowels, or more generally the abdominal cavity, the much larger horse would provide a roomier abode within which to spend one's forevermore.  

 

My “Canopic Horse” has ample room for the liver, and plenty of room left over to throw in a lung or two, and maybe more. Being that after you die, you really aren't doing much bodily travel, it seemed appropriate in this piece that the feet would have no legs, but rather, just hang on chains.  I wouldn't want my organs racing all over creation in my afterlife. Best they stay put near the rest of me.