The hole 2018

Eckart Hahn made ‘The Hole’, in which a well-known cartoon character is presented in a rather less familiar and slightly disturbing way. The image creates meaning by using visual codes that reference childhood memories, but this happy association is undermined by the unnerving scene of a disjointed body. Created in Germany, this work perhaps comments on the social structures of the time, inviting viewers to question the innocence of childhood and the intentions of those who construct our cultural landscape. Hahn seems to critique institutions of art, as he does not rely on traditional forms. Historians play a role in understanding the meaning of art by researching the social and institutional context in which it was created. Only by exploring these resources can we truly understand the meaning of art and its impact on our lives.