Hermann Nitsch

This important Vienna Actionist, originally inspired by French Tachisme & American Abstract Expressionism, began working with paint in the late 1950s & early 60s, putting on "theatrical painting actions" in order to produce large-scale spill paintings. From the 1960s until the late 1990s, Nitsch replaced red paint with blood. Instead of stretching canvas on frames, he began to use bed sheets, & also started working with internal organs, animal cadavers, & human bodies. With his Orgies Mysteries Theatre, Nitsch fulfilled his concept of a Gesamtkunstwerk, a complete work of art embracing painting, architecture, & music in pursuit of catharsis. 290 color illus.