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Published: June 3, 2013, 6:20 a.m.

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This episode of Yoshi Didn\'t introduces Charles Wing Krafft, a very\\xa0prominent\\xa0painter and ceramic artist in Seattle, Washington. I became intrigued after hearing about the controversy surrounding his artwork ("Disasterware") and beliefs. Mr. Krafft was introduced to me through my younger brother. Charles\' son was an avid fan of skateboarding; when Charles met my brother, they became fast\\xa0friends. I thank my brother for the introduction.

An article published earlier this year in the online journal "The Stranger" about Charles\' historical interests and\\xa0skepticism\\xa0about the Holocaust went viral, stirring up a big shitstorm in the art world. I wasn\'t sure Charles would be willing to meet up during a period when he was still the brunt of ad hominem rumors and media attacks. I\'m happy to report that he was kind, courteous and generous with his time. We\\xa0met one afternoon at his Seattle residence.

We start right away discussing how the controversy\\xa0has affected him, from press smears to getting his artwork removed from a European art show. Charles explains becoming interested in the history of the Holocaust and\\xa0questioning whether gas chambers were actually used to exterminate Jewish\\xa0prisoners, referencing his extensive\\xa0research\\xa0and\\xa0travels\\xa0to Europe. We also talk about\\xa0controversial\\xa0Romanian Archbishop Valerian Trifa, and the magnificent Raphael Lemkin, who coined the word "genocide".