Story: Cold War

Picturing a nuclear winter

Picturing a nuclear winter

In 1985 the artist Gavin Chilcott painted this picture, 'Mental preparation for a nuclear winter'. At this time nuclear war was seen by many as inevitable, and an official study was undertaken to see the effects on New Zealand of a northern-hemisphere nuclear winter (a predicted climatic effect of nuclear war).

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki
Reference: C1994/1/175.1-3
Acrylic on canvas by Gavin Chilcott

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Gerald Hensley, 'Cold War - Cold War legacies', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/32726/picturing-a-nuclear-winter (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Gerald Hensley, published 20 Jun 2012