OTTMAR HÖRL – Sculpture – Hear Nothing (2006) – Silver

About the Gnome sculpture – Hear Nothing (Silver)

This peculiar gnome sculpture is an original creation of Ottmar Hörl in 2006. It depicts a self-colored dwarf with both hands covering his ears. This sculpture belongs to the trilogy the Bearers of Secrets: See nothing, Hear nothing, Say nothing. Its particular gesture illustrates the Hear Nothing part of the trilogy. First edited in black, yellow and red for the exhibit our Hear Nothing gnome is now available in multiple shades. This representation of the Hear Nothing gnome comes in bright silver. The gnome sculpture also comes with Artist signature engraved at the bottom at the back of the left foot of the gnome. Indeed, we only sell the Special Edition signed by the Artist.

• Dimensions: 15.75″ x 7.48″ x 6.69″
• Weight: 2 lbs
• Color: Silver gnome
• Model: Hear Nothing
• Materials: toxic-free, weatherproof, break-proof plastic, made in Germany.
• In and Outdoor use

About the Bearers of Secrets theme

Those iconic gnomes refer to the popular pictorial maxim the Three wise monkeys”. The maxim is a 17th-century carving over a door of the famous shrine in Japan. The three monkeys together embody the proverbial principle to See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil”. There are also various meanings ascribed to the monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action. In the Western World, the phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by turning a blind eye. Hörl designed his gnomes See Nothing,”, Hear Nothing,” Say Nothing” in the three different poses and (respectively covering their eyes, ears, and mouth). His parade of 1,200 gnomes provoked some reactions. The comparative political idea, which may be individually interpreted by any spectator, represents an art which seeks to stimulate discussion and doesn’t try to hide in the protected atmosphere of a museum. Ottmar Hörl presented his Bearers of Secrets Gnomes at the Art Fair art Karlsruhe in 2006. He designed the elves in three poses “see nothing – hear nothing – say nothing”  especially for the art fair.

About Ottmar Hörl

Ottmar Hörl is a renown German artist and an art professor and he has led the Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg since 2005. His work is famous for its installations which take place in various outdoor and public places. Professor Hörl art is always a gentle provocation, particularly with his multi-colored gnome sculptures.