I found an article in the Sydney Morning Herald on friday the 16th about the German artist Ottmar Hörl, and after researching found many more. There has been controversy surrounding his lastest work consisting of 1,250 black and gold garden gnomes with their right arms raised in a Hitler salute. Prosecutors in Nuremberg launched an inquiry into the gnomes as it is illegal to display Hitler salutes and Nazi symbols in Germany however they dropped the inquiry once they understood the artist wasn't promoting Hitler. Interestingly the project is funded by The Social Democratic Party of Straubing.
Hörl explains:
"The gnome reminds us that the mentality he symbolises is still part of our society. We should not turn our eyes away from the fascistic, dictatorial constant, the Fuhrer-principal: striving to oppress or control people is as dangerous now as it has ever been."
http://www.ottmarhoerl.de/sites/english/sites/projekte/projekt_31.php?link=31&pro=pro
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/17/2628375.htm
Hörl explains:
"The gnome reminds us that the mentality he symbolises is still part of our society. We should not turn our eyes away from the fascistic, dictatorial constant, the Fuhrer-principal: striving to oppress or control people is as dangerous now as it has ever been."
http://www.ottmarhoerl.de/sites/english/sites/projekte/projekt_31.php?link=31&pro=pro
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/17/2628375.htm
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