This painting was exhibited at the 2009 Threadneedle Prize.

“…has an architectonic splendour crossed with a mood of decay and threat.”
Financial Times

"In contrast to the fairy-castle appearance of Godlieb’s post-human architecture, Zachary Peirce’s painting of “Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone” bleaches the colours out of the natural landscape, leaving washed-out pinks, bruise purples and a colour the same yellow tone as human skin. A slight touch of green appears murky and poisonous. In the background there is a building that appears to be melting: the black outlines drip down the canvas into the overgrowth. Here the impact of humanity’s failings on nature has created a dirty, deserted area without any of the peace of Godlieb’s twilight scene."
Amalia's Magazine

I am continuing to work on a large series of paintings relating to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and its ongoing aftermath. I visited the zone in 2009.