Hitler Greets the Catholic Abbot Schachteitner and Muller, Reich Bishop + Jorge Videla Greets Cardinal Aramburu 1995 - 2007

Curator: Let's discuss León Ferrari's "Hitler Greets the Catholic Abbot Schachteitner and Muller, Reich Bishop + Jorge Videla Greets Cardinal Aramburu," held here at the Tate. This work presents us with a stark composite image on paper measuring 420 by 297 millimeters. Editor: The juxtaposition is chilling. The grainy quality and the figures caught mid-gesture evoke a sense of uneasy alliance and the banality of evil. Curator: Ferrari's photocollages often implicate the Church in oppressive regimes. Notice the way the artist combines these images, drawing parallels between Nazi Germany and the Argentinian dictatorship. It's a scathing indictment of power structures. Editor: The image's power lies in its accessibility, its direct connection to the viewer's understanding of history. Ferrari is not just documenting events; he's actively indicting those complicit in perpetuating injustice. Curator: And by using readily available photographic materials, Ferrari democratizes the means of critique, making these accusations accessible to a broad public outside the confines of traditional art spaces. Editor: It's a potent reminder of how symbols and gestures, captured and recontextualized, can become powerful tools for resistance and social commentary. Food for thought.