Mekong River

The gruesome reality of Nixon's foreign policy.
Constant writes (overgenomen uit Het Parool) (copied from Het Parool) in the bottom right corner, which refers to the news paper clippings on the horizon and bottom right.

The Vietnam war is the first war that is broadcasted through mass media. For the first time people are confronted with moving images of war entering their living room through television. The war leads to protests and outrage and influences the work of many artists, including Constant.

On April 30th, 1970 Nixon addresses the nation on television. He states that instead of withdrawing the 150.000 troops from Cambodia, he intends to send extra troops thereby prolonging the Vietnam war. On May Ist, 1970 Constant creates the collage Mekong River with the newspaper clippings from Het Parool. It is the first of many collages. It is a pivotal work that signals the end of New Babylon. Many of the New Babylon paintings after this date show scenes of agression, revolt and cruelty. Reality has entered Constant's vision for the future and with that the end of New Babylon is heralded.

In 1974 Constant concludes his project with a New Babylon exhibition at Kunstmuseum Den Haag (Gemeentemuseum Den Haag at the time). He clears out his studio and leaves his collection of models at the museum, which will aquire most of them over a periode of ten years.