Description

"Hail Colossus!" (2025).
Material: Oil on canvas
Format: 23,6“ x 31,5“
Series: #Cinematics
Part 4 of the challenge: 'One Year, Twelve Paintings - September'

A recurring motif in art: humanity's fear of its own creation. What if the powerful artificial intelligence turns against us? A thought anticipated in Joseph Sargent's prophetic 1970 science fiction film 'The Forbin Project'.

My painting continues the plot and projects it into an unspecified future. Civilization has shattered, human society has regressed to a pre-industrial state. Now, as humanity worships AI as an artificial god, Colossus opens the gates to his lair.

Side note: The fact that this film features astonishingly realistic animation by special effects artist Albert Whitlock is the icing on the cake for me. Whitlock has influenced my work like few other artists.