Der Karikaturist Gerhard Haderer sitzt an einem Tisch im Cafe Traxlmayer in Linz.

"I couldn’t
live
without Linz."

An interview with Gerhard Haderer, caricaturist

Gerhard Haderer is the most prominent caricaturist in the German-speaking world. His satirical cartoons have graced the pages of Der Spiegel, Stern and numerous quality newspapers. The heart of this perpetually youthful artist beats for his hometown of Linz. In this interview, we discuss Knödel, the European Capital of Culture 2024 and the absence of the letter “d” in the Upper Austrian dialect.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.

Haderer: I couldn’t sleep for nights because I was so excited about this conversation.

I can hardly believe that…

Haderer: Oh, yes. This is the happiest day of my life.

With such enthusiasm, let’s dive right into discussing Upper Austria...

Haderer: Of course!

Der Karikaturist Gerhard Haderer sitzt an einem Tisch im Cafe Traxlmayer in Linz. An der Wand hinter ihm ist ein modernes Bild zu erkennen.

You are a born and bred Upper Austrian, and you’ve recently explored the Upper Austrian dialect in your art.

Haderer: Yes, I’ve been interested in a specific variation of the Upper Austrian dialect since my childhood. I simply love the local slang, or as I call it, “the silent ‘d’ of the Upper Austrians”. For example, “Nul” for “Nudel” (noodle) or “Rul” for “Rudolf”. I incorporate this into my drawings. It’s a loving tribute to the people who live in Upper Austria, just like I do. Our language is a defining aspect of who we are, among many others. We have the smartest, most beautiful and most cultured folks around. Despite being a small dot on the world map, it’s our special place.

Tell us, what are the Upper Austrians like?

Haderer: You can find folks like us all around the world. They just speak different languages elsewhere. But we're a small place where the world tests itself. Here, you encounter people of all sorts. What unites us is that we all live in a beautiful place.

Well said… Do you have any special places here where you relax?

Haderer: In my case, it’s quite unique. I couldn’t live without Linz. Here, models and characters for my cartoons walk right in front of me, as if saying, “Please, draw me!” And, being a friendly person, I do just that. Nobody believes me, though.

Zwei Frauen stehen in der Abenddämmerung am Donauufer und blicken Richtung Urfahr, vor ihnen am gegenüberliegenden Donauufer ist das beleuchtete Ars Electronica Center zu sehen.

You’re a passionate Upper Austrian...

Haderer: Absolutely! I grew up in Linz on Froschberg, and even today, I still think it’s one of the most enchanting places I know. You can reach everything within five minutes. Linz is a small city or a big town, depending on how you want to put it. You’re quickly in the countryside. I’ve also lived in Salzburg, but I didn’t like it there. People didn’t speak my language. In Linz, I understand the people. However, I also enjoy the Salzkammergut region, especially Lake Attersee.

Luftaufnahme der Orte im Attersee und im Attergau Region Attersee-Attergau Attersee am Attersee, Berg im Attergau, Frankenmarkt, Nußdorf am Attersee, Schörfling am Attersee, Seewalchen am Attersee, Sankt Georgen im Attergau, Steinbach am Attersee, Straß im Attergau, Unterach am Attersee, Vöcklamarkt Weyregg am Attersee, mit Blick auf den Ort und das Ufer des Attersees

Do you go on holidays there?

Haderer: As a young person, I decided not to go on holidays because I wanted to create an everyday life for myself that I need to take a break from. And I’ve succeeded in that. But I do like to travel because I’m a curious person. I don’t go on traditional holidays because my work is just too much fun. I’ve never worked a day in my life. Every day in Upper Austria is like a holiday day for me, if you will — and I’ll stick to that.

When your friends from all over the world visit Upper Austria, where do you take them?

My second favourite place after Linz is Lake Attersee. Depending on the weather, I often invite friends there. On beautiful days, it’s a paradise — nothing compares to a summer day by the lake. I’ve also taken Franz Welser-Möst to the Aichinger in Nussdorf to eat. The Gasthaus Wachtberg restaurant with its panoramic view is sensational. It’s so beautiful up there that it’s almost unbearable. I dine there with friends and family, enjoying dishes without the letter “d.” So, it’s “Kne(d)l”, (Knödel) the second bread of the Upper Austrians [laughs].

I prefer dishes without the ‘d’ – so Kne(d)l. The bread of the Upper Austrians.

Gerhard Haderer
caricaturist

Can Gerhard Haderer also cook?

Haderer: Of course. But I don’t want to interfere with my beloved’s cooking. If she hears this, she’ll probably say, “Ha-ha, you’ve yet to prove that you can cook.”

Is there a difference between exhibiting your art in either Linz or Berlin?

Haderer: Artists are best understood in their immediate surroundings. It’s the same for everyone. Someone like Welser Möst, who appreciates people, speaks their language and understands them, has a close relationship with the audience. So do I. That’s why artists, too, have home games – it’s a different atmosphere than in Frankfurt or Berlin. When I say at an exhibition in Linz, “Wo is da Rul?” (Where’s Rudolf?), everyone knows who “Rudolf” refers to. In other regions, you might need more translation than in Linz. But exhibiting elsewhere is exciting, too. You do it because you don’t always want to be around the same people. Abroad, as an Austrian, you have that exotic touch and are admired. I always say I’m an Upper Austrian. Kne(d)l eater.

What do you expect from the European Capital of Culture 2024?

Haderer: I’ll say just one thing: Fasten your seatbelts – buckle up! Culture has this thing where it questions everything around us. This European Capital of Culture, will, of course, probably be a great declaration of love for our province. That’s what I hope for. But there will also be different hooks. The young, the young at heart and the alert minds aren’t satisfied with traditions and customs. They want today’s culture.

The very clever ones, like Hubert von Goisern, take these traditions and adapt them to today’s standards. That’s great art. Or magnificent artists like the musical duo Attwenger — whom I’ve been devoted to for years — do the same.

Culture, however, has a much higher demand. Culture can be found in all aspects of our lives. And if it’s not, then it’s unculture! And we artists don’t want unculture; we fight against it every day. We want to push the world a little more towards culture.

What kind of art inspires you?

Haderer: My concept of culture is comprehensive and begins with the small farmer who sustains his business. Everything is culture — basically. Upper Austria is not like Salzburg, where there’s a clear symbol for culture. Privately, I enjoy going to concerts, but not classical ones. My culture is in Linz — the steel city. There’s a lot of fresh stuff emerging, and it’s nice to discover. For instance, Bilderbuch are impressive. I like the diversity and take advantage of it. It keeps you young.

A few facts…

Haderer was born in Leonding, Upper Austria, in 1951.
He attended the Technical School of Graphic Design in Linz and worked as a graphic designer from the 1970s.
A decade later, he published his first caricatures, which were featured in publications such as “Profil”, “Geo”, “Titanic” and “Stern.”
He later published “Moff — Haderers feines Schundheftl” (Moff — Haderer’s Fine Trash Book). In 2002, his book “Das Leben des Jesus” (The Life of Jesus) caused a scandal not only in Austria.
In Linz, Haderer runs the political think tank “Schule des Ungehorsams” (School of Disobedience).