Atomic Power

The Austrian artist Werner Horvath on the nuclear catastrophe in Japan: 

"Nuclear Power - the Gift of the Danaans", mixed media on canvas, 40 x 60 cm, 2011.

The composition of ther work is based on the the Aeneid

After a nine-year war on the beaches of Troy between the Danaans (Greeks) and the Trojans, the Greek seer Calchas induces the leaders of the Greek army to offer the Trojan people a huge wooden horse, the so-called Trojan Horse, while seemingly departing. The Trojan priest Laocoön, distrusting this gesture, warns the Trojans not to accept the gift, crying, Equo ne credite, Teucri! Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentis. ("Do not trust the horse, Trojans! Whatever it is, I fear the Danaans, even when bringing gifts.") - (Citation from Wikipedia)

The story ended in the destruction of Troja. Laocoon's words have been paraphrased in Horvath's painting to: "Beware of the Nuclear Lobby even when bringing gifts!" But again the warner was not successful and the face of Laocoon is blowing in the wind...

The picture above is a digital composition based on original oil paintings of Werner Horvath; you can purchase this artwork as high-quality canvas print on Saatchi online.