Berlin Exhibition Revisits Christoph Schlingensief's Provocative Queen Nazi Salute Play
A Berlin exhibition reflects on the legacy of the late Christoph Schlingensief, recognized as a significant provocateur in German art, and his B-Movie horror style, questioning whether his work can still compel audiences to reconsider issues of media influence, colonialism, and the far right. Central to the discussion is his 2006 play, Kaprow City, which debuted at the Volksbühne theatre in Berlin. The Sunday Express famously declared: “Fury at German play that shows Queen as a Nazi.” Inspired by US performance artist Allan Kaprow, the play addresses the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, featuring scenes like the queen giving a Hitler salute and a reenactment of the paparazzi chase leading to Diana’s tragic accident. Schlingensief claimed his intent was not provocation but rather an exploration of how Diana became a contemporary icon, yet his work thrived on controversy, highlighting the absurdity of societies that idolize while consuming their icons. The exhibition reassesses this impact and its ongoing significance in discussions about media, colonialism, and the far right.
Key facts
- The late Christoph Schlingensief was one of German art’s great provocateurs.
- A Berlin show revisits his B-Movie horror aesthetics and asks if they can still shock viewers into thinking anew about media power, colonialism, and the far right.
- His play Kaprow City premiered at Berlin’s Volksbühne theatre in 2006.
- The Sunday Express headline after the premiere read: “Fury at German play that shows Queen as a Nazi.”
- The play drew on the happenings of US performance artist Allan Kaprow and focused on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
- In one scene, the then queen performs a Hitler salute; another re-enacts the paparazzi chase that led to Diana’s fatal crash.
- Diana appears in bed beside two men with Down’s syndrome, and Camilla is pelted with animal blood.
- Schlingensief insisted the work was not meant as provocation but as an investigation into how Diana turned into a modern icon.
Entities
Artists
- Christoph Schlingensief
- Allan Kaprow
- Diana, Princess of Wales
- Camilla
Institutions
- Volksbühne theatre
- Sunday Express
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany