ANDREAS HOPFGARTEN
The story of German interrogator Hanns Scharff
THE STORY OF GERMAN INTERROGATOR HANNS SCHARFF
(2023)
5 x wall stickers, 150 x 260 cm
2 x mosaics on acrylic glas, 150 x 200 cm
1 x fine art print in a wood frame, blue, 30 x 40 cm
80 mounted slides in a Kodak Carousel
55 lasercuts, HDF, 15 x 18 cm
1 x fine art print and dog tag in a wood frame, black, 13 x 18 cm
1 x video, screen, 20 min., loop
Once upon a time, there was a man named Hanns Scharff, an interrogator for the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. His task was to gather information to obtain military advantages for Nazi Germany. Legend has it that he was the master interrogator of the Luftwaffe, revolutionizing interrogation techniques by using kindness to extract information from prisoners. After the war, Scharff moved to the USA and worked as a mosaicist. One of his largest mosaics occupies a prominent position in Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World in Florida, USA. He died in 1992.
„The Story of German Interrogator Hanns Scharff“ provides a critical examination of the mythologizing of historical figures and the role of media in shaping public perception. Through a multifaceted approach, the work challenges the oversimplified and often glorified narratives surrounding Scharff and connects them to the world of Disney, which itself often depicts an idealized version of medieval Europe filled with grand castles, noble knights, and virtuous princesses. This portrayal typically emphasizes chivalry, romance, and adventure, creating a fantasy world dangerously close to Nazi Germany’s idealized view of the Middle Ages.
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