NITSCH, HERMANN

* 29.8.1938 Vienna, † 18.4.2022 Mistelbach

Hermann Nitsch was born in Vienna on 29 August 1938. After studying at the Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt, Nitsch worked as a commercial artist at the Technical Museum in Vienna from 1957. During this time, he focused intensively on Expressionism and religious figure themes. In 1961 Hermann Nitsch created his first ‘Schüttbilder’. To this day, Nitsch is one of the best-known artists to use this technique. In 1963, together with Adolf Frohner and Otto Muehl, he carried out the Action ‘Blood Organ’, which lasted several days, and as a result brought Viennese Actionism into being. As he turned to Art Informel and literature, he developed concepts for his first painting ‘Actions’, from which the ‘Orgien Mysterien Theater’ developed. In order to trigger all five senses amongst the spectators and participants, Nitsch used real substances such as milk, vinegar, wine, blood or meat. His Actions became increasingly provocative. He drew on sacrificial rituals in his art and increasingly carried out real acts such as tearing up a lamb. In doing so, his art crossed the boundary between life and reality. Disgust and fascination are held in balance. His constant clashes with the authorities forced him to move to Germany in 1968 at short notice. Surprisingly, almost at the same time, Hermann Nitsch was enjoying great success with his productions in the United States, which was considered extremely prudish, and in many European cities.

From 1969 onwards, numerous Actions, exhibitions and concerts took place at home and abroad. Following his participation in documenta in 1972 and 1982, the international art market increasingly responded to him. In 1984 Nitsch was awarded the Austrian Art Prize for Fine Arts. On the occasion of his 50th birthday he was honoured with a large retrospective at the Lenbachhaus in Munich. From 1989 until his retirement, Nitsch taught at the Städelschule in Frankfurt am Main.For Hermann Nitsch, painting represents one of the disciplines of his ‘Orgien-Mysterien-Theater’. It is deeply anchored in Actionism, performance and multimedia. For the artist, painting is the origin of the Actions and at the same time their result. His works often go beyond the viewer's field of vision. He has continually rethought his painting since the 1960s and developed his own specific approach for each painting Action and each group of works, the results of which can be walked through and experienced as colour spaces and poured installations.

Hermann Nitsch lives and works at his castle in Prinzendorf in Lower Austria and in Asolo in Italy. His works are represented in the two Nitsch Museums in Mistelbach and Naples, in the Nitsch Foundation in Vienna, as well as in the most renowned museums and galleries worldwide.