OK, so we’re going off-road for this one.
Hannelore Kohl, wife of former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, was hardly the strangest flower. Rather than eccentricity her life was instead marked by public exposure and private tragedy, the latter winning out in 2001 when she took her own life.
And unlike our other Friday fashion insurrectionists she was hardly an adventurous dresser, merely adding a hausfrau twist to the Cold Warrior’s Consort template established by Nancy Reagan (helmet hair, shoulder pads).
The sole reason, then, for featuring Hannelore Kohl is this incredible photo. I came across it a few months ago while flicking through a magazine, whereupon I commented “whoa“. And I stand by that statement. I’ve forgotten the exact circumstances of this shot; from memory Hannelore had accompanied her husband to Chicago on an official visit, and it was taken by veteran photographer Helmut R. Schulze.
Anyway, who cares – the point is that it somehow produced the most unlikely image of a politician’s spouse imaginable. The improbable scenario which brings together two different worlds in what appears to be a strange artsy parody of a cigarette ad, the cop’s strained uniform and conspicuous weapon, the First Frau’s cocky stance and flirtatious tilt of the head, the backdrop which looks for all the world like a projection, the queer yellow light falling on the protagonists, the vivid sense of no-one either behind or in front of the camera being where they expected to be… I’m not sure I’m doing it justice but really, can’t you see this blown up and exhibited over a whole wall in a contemporary gallery?
we have a sculptor in USA by the name of Duane Hansen
I thought this was his work
utterly strange these two
you do the photo justice
you should actualize your idea
into a gallery setting
Except now my mind has raced ahead and it’s now become a still from a movie playing in my mind. I think Hannelore runs away with the cop and they join a doomsday cult
My god, what an tragic life this woman had. The air of hardness around her in this shot could not be more authentic.
If they run away it is probably to a Motel Six on the demode’ fringes of Las Vegas.We are in Fassbinder territory. She is implacably gleeful because she knows what a good fuck is to be had from this urban warrior. He will turn her every which way but loose and she needs a deep plow with a heavy duty drill.. Look at his gun. He is locked and loaded. The exchange with the lighting of the cigarette is surely about as sexual a metaphor as we need to understand what may likely come next..
James please write a good script!.
John, you’re on a roll. I think you should finish it…