'Nazi gnomes' invade German town
An artist has placed 1,250 sinister looking black 'Nazi gnomes' in the south-eastern German town of Straubing.Ottmar Hoerl claims his gnomes, which each hold their arms outstretched in a Hitler salute, are a protest against lingering fascist tendencies in Germany.
Unsurprisingly, locals in the Bavarian town are not too happy with the controversial display "Dance with the Devil" - which they claim highlights the fact people there once supported Hitler.
While it would normally be illegal to display Nazi symbols anywhere in Germany, a court has said that the Hitler gnomes were clearly satire, and therefore okay.
Personally we find the idea of 1,250 gnomes a little bit scary, even if they just had hats and fishing rods, let alone support for Hitler.
Artist Hoerl said: "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."
"A fact is, that I am polarising with my works. There are people who think that I am shit – the others think that I am very good.
"But a polarisation is healthy – because it leads to discussion. A permanent applause makes you sleepy..."
LINKS
Ottmar Hoerl
"A fact is, that I am polarising with my works. There are people who think that I am shit – the others think that I am very good.
"But a polarisation is healthy – because it leads to discussion. A permanent applause makes you sleepy..."
LINKS
Ottmar Hoerl
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