Critical Block Miniature World by Maykel Roover

The juxtaposition of youthful naïveté against a harsher adult reality becomes exceedingly stark through artist Maykel Roover’s Critical Block Miniature World. The toy blocks, which in their dissociated state appear to be child-appropriate entertainment, actually are wooden miniature representations of nuclear power plant stacks, buildings, and equipment. The laughable white smoke clouds that rise from the iconic cooling towers only highlight the irony in this ingenious piece. Not only does Roover offer great craftsmanship but also a philosophical discourse about innocence and experience, and a hint at a scientific discussion on global energy markets.