Gottfried Helnwein: The Human Condition

Gottfried Helnwein is an Austrian artist known for his hyper-realist paintings depicting wounded children, meant to symbolize innocence as well as society’s exploitation of this virtue. They encapsulate the purity and unassuming wisdom of children marred by war, poverty and corruption.

Helnwein’s love for cartoon characters also sparked inspiration for a collection of paintings featuring malevolent versions of Disney cartoon characters, specifically, Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. These cartoon characters recur in Helnwein’s work—for example, one of his early watercolors, “Peinlich (Embarrassing)” shows a little girl in a pink dress holding a comic book. A gash slices her cheek and lips, deforming them. In many interviews Helnwein has stated, “I learned more from Donald Duck than from all the schools I have attended.”

Helnwein has also photographed Marilyn Manson (for his album “The Golden Age of Grotesque”), Andy Warhol, and Keith Richards to name a few. In addition, he has done a series of self portraits.

Ultimately, Helnwein’s art explores the human condition through pain, fear and the forces of war. It is visceral and unnerving. Because Helnwein grew up in a post-war German speaking country, some of his art references the Holocaust (for example, in his recreation of the famous “Adoration of the Magi,” the infant Jesus is surrounded by five SS officers). His work is so controversial that, unfortunately, it has been protested, defamed and even confiscated by the police.

What do you think of Gottfried Helnwein and his art?

All photos from Helnwein.com