Rest in Peace Hermann Nitsch

This week we mourn the death of legendary Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch.

The actionist known for using blood, viscera, and splattered paint in ritualistic and often controversial artworks about religion, war, and metaphysics passed away at 83 years old.

He was a co-founder of Viennese Actionism and best known for his Theater of Orgies and Mysteries, conceived as a visceral synthesis of the arts.

It peaked with a ‘6-day Play’ in 1998, featuring more than 3,400 gallons of wine, hundreds of liters of blood, a kilogram of grapes and tomatoes, several animal carcasses as well as musical backing.

While Nitsch often received criticism he continued to redefine performance art and would go on to be featured in numerous museums and solo exhibitions around the world.

Nitsch’s final exhibition, 20th Painting Action, is now on view during the 59th Venice Biennale.

Rest in peace Hermann Nitsch.

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