“I can’t help but get the impression that someone has shit in the brains of both of you” – the artist Gottfried Helnwein found very clear and warm words in an open letter after receiving harsh criticism from more than just the expected circles because of the controversial photos in Gmunden blows towards you.
A quote from what Helnwein calls a ‘traditional left-wing newspaper’ is the last straw for the controversial artist: ‘As is known, wearing such a uniform (in public) would result in a report for reactivity. But the simple display, representation or distribution of insignia, uniforms or uniform parts of a banned organization is also prohibited by law. ‘What does Helnwein want to tell us with the SS uniform? Does he accept the downplaying of the symbolism of a regime of mass murderers?” “Of course, what else” – said the artist, using the somewhat heartier choice of words quoted above.
Helnwein emphasizes that “no artist after 1945 has dealt so critically, so radically and tirelessly with the Holocaust and the unfortunate legacy of the ‘Thousand Year Reich’ in his work as I have. For fifty years, my work has been one call against violence, especially against violence against children and against forgetting.”
“First class shit storm”
He remembers the radical protests against his early works and that there had been no significant attacks for twenty years, his exhibitions attracted record numbers of visitors and now came the request for an artistic contribution from the municipality of Gmunden: “I agreed and 3 large format photos installed at Gmunden Town Hall and the Municipal Theater. With the titles ‘Memory’, ‘The Disasters of War’ and ‘The Smile’
Lo and behold, my simple installation led to self-appointed saviors of the West crawling out of every hole and creating a first-rate shitstorm.”
By the way, the pictures remain, the story about the excitement surrounding the three works is a chapter richer and the ‘Capital of Culture’ continues to be discussed.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
