1967
Mediums: bronze.
Location: The campus of the University of Chicago (Chicago, USA).
The sculpture is located in the courtyard of the University of Chicago at the site of the creation of the world’s first nuclear reactor Chicago Pile-1, and was installed there exactly 25 years after this event. The work is something between an atomic fungus and a human skull, alluding to the danger that atomic energy poses to a person if used improperly. The contrasting combination of the upper and lower parts of the sculpture emphasizes the dual nature of this force, which is beneficial to humans, but has a huge destructive force. During the development of the model of the sculpture, its content caused controversy among the university leadership, since many considered the work too horrifying because of its similarity to the human skull, the symbol of death, but, despite this, the sculpture took its place on February 18, 1965 and was designated as National Historical reference point.