Original Artwork: The great horned owl – Max Gömann

Linocut ink and pastel on paper
29.7 cm x 21 cm
Unframed

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Monkey Wrench by Max Gömann

My time in the United States was formative. Above all, the endless expanses of deserts, tundras, and mountains stretching from Utah and Arizona to Nevada left a lasting impression on me. During this journey, I came across a book that became the key inspiration for my new series of works titled "Monkey Wrench."

The Monkey Wrench Gang is a novel by American author Edward Abbey, first published in 1975. It’s considered a classic of environmental literature and has inspired generations of environmentalists and activists. The book tells the story of a group of eco-activists rebelling against the destruction of wilderness in the American Southwest.

The four unlikely protagonists — Vietnam veteran George Hayduke, idealistic doctor Doc Sarvis, feminist Bonnie Abbzug, and spiritual river guide Seldom Seen Smith — join forces to sabotage major projects such as dam constructions, roads, and mines. Their actions range from humorous trickery to dangerous violence, bringing them into conflict with the authorities and testing their own morals and group dynamics.

The novel explores the struggle between untouched nature and industrial destruction, raising questions about the ethical limits of civil disobedience. It is a passionate plea for environmental protection, contrasting the wild beauty of nature with its exploitation disguised as progress by modern society.