Gottfried Helnwein | IRELAND | Ireland Special | “THE LAST CHILD” INSTALLATION BY GOTTFRIED HELNWEINThe last Child

Many people feel that museums should be a refuge in which to experience quiet beauty divorced from the coarseness of the world. This notion sells short the purposes of art, the function of museums, and the intellectual curiosity of the public.
Works by Gottfried Helnwein will inspire and enlighten many; it is also sure to upset some. It is not only the right but the responsibility of the museum to present art that deals with important and sometimes controversial topics in our society.”

Harry S. Parker, Director of Museums, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Waterford Fringe Festival have begun an installation of large scale images around waterford city - 18 in total - some disturbing - one of Ireland biggest ever outdoor exhibitions by Gottfried Helnwein, a world famous Austria artist. In the last few years - his exhibitions have enthralled Red Square in Moscow, los Angeles, Cologne, Germany, Krems, Austria - and now Waterford.

Why Waterford? Gottfried has taken up residence at Gurteen Castle and describes Waterford as a Quiet Tranquil village (compared with LA). His images will provoke controversy - if we were to put up images of a soldier shooting another soldier - you would no ever look - but children are the ones most affected by war - both emotionally and physically - but we never think of this - only country fighting country! Now see the innocent pictures on the information arch in Broad Street, Boy soldiers forced to become soldiers from the age of 5 or 6 and their bandages around their eyes represent thei blindness to human emotion. The children covered in blood should remain in your mind long after you see them - hopefully the artist can get across the horror of war that we miss in modern society. John Roberts Square also has a 40ft image of Slieve na Mban - the tranquility of Ireland never ruined by war or terrorism. The biggest image is a 120ft x 80ft image of a young Waterford Girl - looking from the north Quays over the river to the other images. She is the innocence of youth.


		04. septembre 2008 Munster Express Waterford, Ireland “THE LAST CHILD” INSTALLATION BY GOTTFRIED HELNWEIN Anti War Art by world renowned Austrian artist "For Helnwein, the child is the symbol of innocence, but also of innocence betrayed. In today’s world, the malevolent forces of war, poverty, and sexual exploitation and the numbing, predatory influence of modern media assault the virtue of children. Robert Flynn Johnson, the curator in charge of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, has assembled a thought-provoking selection of Helnwein’s works and provided an insightful essay on his art in this exhibition catalogue. Helnwein’s work concerning the child includes paintings, drawings, and photographs, and it ranges from subtle inscrutability to scenes of stark brutality. Of course, brutal scenes—witness The Massacre of the Innocents—have been important and regularly visited motifs in the history of art. What makes Helnwein’s art significant is its ability to make us reflect emotionally and intellectually on the very expressive subjects he chooses."