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Animal blood on relined canvas, wooden frame Austria, 1984 Hermann Nitsch (b. 1938) - Austrian painter and performance artist Signed, titled and dated on the back 'Hermann Nitsch / 80. Aktion / Prinzendorf / 1984' Dimensions: 152 x 252 cm Very good condition Provenance: from an Austrian private collection A so-called relic painting of the 80th action by the Orgien Mysterien Theater in Pinzendorf; the so-called 'Reliktbilder' by the enfant terrible of performance art fetch up to more than 100,000 Euro at international auctions This large-scale painting by Hermann Nitsch was created during the 80th action by the Austrian artist, performed from 27 to 30 July 1984 at the Prinzendorf castle. Nitsch had bought the castle in Lower Austria in 1971 in order hold his so-called 'Orgien und Mysterien' (=Orgy Mystery Theatre) spectacles undisturbed by the authorities. During these performances - taking the shape of 'gesamtkunstwerke' accompanied by music and shouting choruses - so-called 'Reliktbilder (=relic paintings) like this one were painted with the blood of 'sacrificed' animal carcasses. These orgiastic enactments aim to create an aesthetic ecstasy for the viewer, despite the shock and horror. Nitsch is not interested in pure provocation. The artist assures that he has always wanted to create an art, which agitates and startles. Taking his inspiration from the writings of de Sade, Nietzsche and Freud, this is how Nitsch sees the cathartic function of his highly symbolic spectacles - as an emotional cleansing through the experience of revulsion and disgust. The work of Hermann Nitsch is in very good condition. There is minor flaking here and there, especially along the lower section. The relining of the canvas is original, made by the artist, as well as the wooden frame. The painting is signed on the back, on the relining, inscribed and dated 'Hermann Nitsch / 80. Aktion / Prinzendorf / 1984'. The stretcher frame measures 152 x 252 cm. Hermann Nitsch (b. 1938) Hermann Nitsch was born in Vienna in 1938. He studied at the Austrian Federal Education and Research Institute for Graphics in Vienna and then worked as a commercial artist at the Museum of Technology. In the late 1950s, the first painting actions were created and the concept of the 'Orgien Mysterien Theater' was conceived. After his publicly held actions repeatedly led to confrontations with the Viennese authorities, Nitsch moved to Germany in 1968. In subsequent years, Nitsch performed his actions in many European and North American cities, enjoying great success. Since the early 1970s Nitsch held his regular 'Orgien-Mysterien-Spiele' on the grounds of Schloss Prinzendorf. In 1972 the artist participated in documenta 5 in Kassel curated by Harald Szeemann and has since been honored with numerous awards. Works by Hermann Nitsch are in the collections of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the MoMA in New York, the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich and the Museum Ludwig in Cologne amongst others.