New artwork was taped over the controversial Hogan’s Heroes parody at design studio Advision. Photo: Supplied.
A controversial Hogan’s Heroes parody work by a Wagga design studio, labelled “beyond disgraceful” by Riverina MP Michael McCormack, was covered on Wednesday morning (2 April) by a sign saying “Blessed are the cheesemakers”.
On Monday (31 March), the Advison studio put up a mural depicting Clive Palmer, Gina Rinehart, Peter Dutton and Mr McCormack wearing outfits akin to that of German military leaders and Nazis.
Studio owner and former Charles Sturt University graphic design lecturer Michael Agzarian said it was a parody of the TV comedy show Hogan’s Heroes.
Mr McCormack slammed the artwork and reported it to police.
By Wednesday morning, the mural was covered by a banner placed on the outside of the store’s window with a famous quote from the 1979 Monty Python film Life of Brian.
The scene in the film from which the quote is derived is a parody of Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount from the Bible.
When Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers”, those furthest away from him in the crowd mishear it as “Blessed are the cheesemakers”.
Mr Agzarian told Region he did not put up the banner, but said he found it amusing. By 11 am on Wednesday, the cheesemakers banner had been taken down.
NSW Police have since ruled out any laws being broken by the original ‘Nazi’ mural after commencing an investigation into it on Tuesday morning.
“About 11:30 am yesterday (Monday 31 March 2025), police were notified of a display at a business on Gurwood Street, Wagga Wagga, with offensive material,” a statement read.
“Officers spoke to a 69-year-old man at the business and after seeking legal advice it was determined the material does not break the 80.2E Prohibited symbols under the Australian Criminal Code.”
The controversial mural has divided opinion in the art world.
Local graphic design studio Advision has been slammed by Member for Riverina Michael McCormack for depicting him and several other political leaders as members of the German Gestapo during World War II. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
The inaugural winner of the satirical art prize the Bald Archy Rocco Fazzari said it was a step too far.
“You might not agree with McCormack’s, you know, political persuasion and ideas but he’s not a Nazi,” Mr Fazzari said.
“It’s become quite … it’s become offensive to a lot of people. It depicts an extreme point of view, and I don’t think that’s a fair depiction of him.”
Mr Fazzari admitted to not immediately picking up on the fact the artwork was a parody of Hogan’s Heroes and believed the artist could have done a better job at executing the idea.
“The idea of parodying Hogan’s Heroes is a good one,” he said.
“The issue here is that he didn’t make it clear. Everyone knows Colonel Klink as being a terrible leader and taking a jab at that is funny but he didn’t make that distinction clear.
“You’re suggesting that the guy is not up to scratch and can’t do the job properly, which is fair but it would have worked better if he used a quote from the original show like ‘I know nothing’ or something similar. It would have been a better solution and I personally would have enjoyed that better.”
Charles Sturt University art historian and Associate Professor Sam Bowker had a different insight into the artist’s work, believing he didn’t break any laws and that he had the right to showcase what he pleased.
Associate Professor Bowker simply stated, “Good on him.”
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