Hermann Nitsch

(*1938)

Austria – Art after 1945 – Expressionism, Viennese Actionism – Hermann Nitsch

Vita:

After successfully completing his training at the Graphic Education and Research Institute in Vienna, Hermann Nitsch began to work at the Technical Museum in Vienna. In addition to his work as a commercial artist, the artist dealt intensively with the art of expressionism. In the beginning he also orientated himself on this art direction and reproduced it in his works. A few years later, the first painting action pictures emerged, for which he finally became known. Initially, the public presentation of his action art led to countless confrontations and even stays in prison. After the reviews of his art were very negative, he decided to leave Austria and moved to Germany. After the first great successes in his new home as well as in America, further trips to various European and North American cities followed, where he demonstrated his action work. In 1971 he returned to Austria and acquired Prinzendorf Castle in Lower Austria, where he was able to realize his art with the help of music in his theater. The idea behind his presentations was the possibility of identification with the painting process for the viewer. Hermann Nitsch interpreted life as a passion, the painting process as a compressed life and thus as a model of the passion.

Work:

Hermann Nitsch is the founder of Viennese Actionism and is one of the most versatile contemporary artists. In 1961 he created the first poured pictures he knew. His oeuvre encompasses not only his existence as a painter, but also as an actionist, composer and stage designer at the same time. The total work of art, the orgies, mysteries and theater encompass the absolute diversity of his art in that he demands the use of all senses. The extreme or the tragic leads to a confrontation with blood, flesh and entrails. With this representation he wanted to cause the viewer to connect with the action of pouring and become part of the action.