MEDSAN - Trojan horse (トロイの木馬) - Hand Signed

With this square-format work, Medsan questions our relationship to identity and to collective construction through the prism of a Western founding myth, reinterpreted by feudal Japan. This giclée features a monumental wooden construction, a recreation of the legendary Trojan Horse, but here shaped by a team of Japanese workers and artisans from the Edo era, coming together to give life to this war machine.

The visual clash and the humor of the composition lie in the execution of this mythical object. In place of infiltrated Greeks, there is a clearly visible wooden plaque on the horse's flank bearing the artist's name in katakana: "メドサン" (Medsan). The actor of the story, once the bearer of a secret infiltration, becomes a branded surface, a data stream, ironizing the transformation of classic symbols in the contemporary digital era. The five figures of workers, in traditional attire, tackle their task with period tools (axe, saw, ropes), collectively pulling the immense wooden structure mounted on a wheeled cart.

The impact of the composition is magnificently enhanced by a solid turquoise background, which makes the contrast between the dark wooden texture and the workers’ figures stand out. The bold line and flat colors strictly adhere to the codes of ukiyo-e printmaking, giving this conquering figure a striking pop-art aesthetic and timeless heroism. The traditional vertical cartouche at the top right, housing the artist’s signature in katakana (メドサン), completes the temporal illusion.

A conceptual piece, both aesthetic, historical and intellectual, ideal for adding a pop, graphic, and deeply reflective touch to a design-forward, contemporary interior.

Technical specifications:
Artist: Medsan
Reference: Trojan Horse / Workers / Artisans / Construction / Team / Ropes / Axe / Saw / Ukiyo-e / Pop Art / Mashup
Dimensions: 40 × 40 cm
Edition: Limited edition
Year: 2026
Support: Giclées mounted on wooden frame (about 2 cm thick)
Signature: Yes, signed in the cartouche and by hand (Wait, I added a cartouche with text 'メドサン' in the top right to match the previous works' signing style. There is also 'メドサン' text on the side plaque of the horse structure itself. I'll make sure the specs match. Okay, final check, the cartouche is indeed 'メドサン'.)
Condition: Excellent condition
Certificate: Certificate of authenticity (upon request)

About the Studio:
Atelier Joconde is a studio of artists united around a living and plural contemporary creation. Installed as a true place of artistic production, the studio operates both in collective creation and in individual approaches, depending on projects and works. Atelier Joconde is also a family venture. Le Yack, a contemporary figurative painter, develops a narrative and introspective body of work influenced by cinema and realism. At its side, Medsan focuses on pop art painting, exploring color, modern iconography, and visual culture. Finally, Neo Pablo pursues a more instinctive search, blending abstract art, naive art, and figurative abstraction. Each work is conceived, created and followed within the studio, with a shared artistic standard and an identity unique to each artist.

Keywords:
Medsan, Atelier Joconde, Le Yack, Trojan Horse, Trojan Horse, Myth, Collective Construction, Workers, Artisans, Team, Ropes, Axe, Saw, Ukiyo-e, Japanese Print, Pop Art, Mashup, Square format, Anachronism, Contemporary, Turquoise, Giclée, Contemporary art, Design decoration.