100mph Chess by Teddy Hansen

How deer fighting inspired fencing:

Deer fight by smashing their horns together. People saw this and thought they should recreate it but with long, thin swords.

The painting shows a fencer holding a large checkered flag. Fencing has been described as chess at 100 mph. The checkers are similar to that of a flag used at car races, and some of the squares have chess pieces on them.

The fencer is jabbing the deer’s chest, causing a little red spot. Deer’s favourite flower to eat is the daylily, commonly found in orange or red. In fencing, when a fencer gets a valid hit, a red buzzer will sound and light up.

On the deer’s back there is a deer looking into a mirror with a man looking back at it. This represents how, when deer fight and in fencing, you predict, mirror and contest your opponents’ moves.

Mixed media on canvas.

96H x 96W cm

2025