Τρωϊκός κύκλος

000478 Nikos Yialouris, Trojan Cycle, 1992, mixed media on paper, 58 × 70 cm

By the early 1990s, Yialouris's painting had moved almost entirely into the realm of Surrealism, still drawing inspiration from antiquity. It was during this time that he created his compositions on the theme of the Trojan Horse, perhaps influenced by the American invasion of Iraq and the First Gulf War. In this specific scene, the wooden skeleton of the mythical horse is depicted on black ground and against a bright red backdrop—elements that intensify the tragic nature of the subject, evoking the idea of battle and slaughter. The composition is not realistic. The wooden components are interpreted allegorically here, as is the representation of space. The artist’s intent is to comment on contemporary events, to express his anxiety about what is to come—cloaked as a “gift.”