Hermann Nitsch is an Austrian avant-garde artist who works in experimental and multimedia modes. Born in Vienna, Nitsch received training in painting when studied at the Wiener Graphische Lehr-und Versuchanstalt, during which time he was drawn to religious art. He is associated with the Vienna Actionists—a loosely affiliated group of off-kilter and confrontational Austrian artists that also includes Günter Brus, Otto Muehl, and Rudolf Schwarzkogler. Nitsch's abstract 'splatter' paintings, like his performance pieces, are inspired by his neutral perspective on humanity and being human. In the 1950s, Nitsch conceived of the Orgien Mysterien Theater, staging nearly 100 performances between 1962 and 1998. In 1966 he was with Yoko Ono, Gustav Metzger, Otto Muehl, Wolf Vostell, Juan Hidalgo and others a participant of the Destruction in Art Symposium in London.
Orgien Mysterien Theater
Nitsch's Orgien Mysterien Theater performances can be considered both ritualistic and existential. The scene is often involved with slaughters, religious sacrifices, crucifixion, as well as blood and flesh. The performances are also accompanied with music, dancing, and active participants. In his first Orgie Mysterien Theater performance, Nitsch and his friends used animal carcasses, entrails, and blood similarly to a ritual. The cloths, bandages and other fabrics used in these performances introduced Nitsch to the idea of making paintings. Most recently, he has exhibited his works during the Venice Biennale2017 at the European Cultural Centre.
Controversial aspects
Having grown up during World War II, Nitsch reveals his fascination with the intensity of religious feelings for life in his art work with excessive means such as taboo images, nudity, bloody scenes and more. For this, he received several court trials, being charged with gross public indecency and sentenced to three prison terms. It is often suggested that his work may exemplify certain peoples' fascination with violence.
