Top 9 Quotes & Sayings by Gottfried Helnwein

When I started to paint, I painted children because I just felt that I wanted to take their side. What always upset me was how children are getting abused simply because they are physically weaker and not capable of defending themselves - how they get raped, enslaved and killed. I never understood why some people seemed to have fun causing pain to someone smaller.

Imaginations and illusions are always so much more powerful and bigger than this mediocre and boring thing called reality.

Art is a weapon for me, with which I can strike back.

Not only do I think that he is highly intelligent but also outstandingly educated. ... He is extremely beautiful, fragile and totally unearthly. I always had the feeling that he is not standing on the floor but slightly floating on air. Michael Jackson knows that he appears like that on others and he also knows how to employ it.

Warhol is the pre-Helnwein.

The first time I saw a picture of Elvis - I was in a state of shock, because I couldn't believe that a human being could be so beautiful.

I feel there is a strong bond between artists and children and all other sacred fools.

In retrospect I would say from Donald Duck I have learned more about life than from all the schools I ever attended.

My art was not an answer - it was a question.