Pegasus und Poseidon 2021

Siegfried Zademack created this painting, titled "Pegasus und Poseidon," using oil on canvas. We see the iconic winged horse, Pegasus, whose father is Poseidon, the god of the seas. The juxtaposition of Pegasus, who symbolizes freedom and the heavens, with the maritime setting, evokes complex layers of meaning. Note the presence of a boat, laden with what seems to be industrial containers, adding an element of modernity to the classical myth. Here, the motif of the horse, a recurring image across cultures, takes on a particularly poignant dimension. We see the horse across the ages, from the horses of Saint Mark in Venice to the warhorses of ancient battlefields. It is an emblem of power, virility, and, in this instance, an unsettling, surreal juxtaposition. The image engages viewers on a subconscious level as we grapple with themes of mythology and modernity, freedom and constraint. These powerful forces engage our collective memories. The cyclical progression of the winged horse surfaces here, evolving beyond its classical origins, carrying the weight of history. It resurfaces with new meanings within this disquieting, dreamlike seascape.