Hermann Nitsch in Geneva
Opera Gallery Geneva is delighted to present a solo exhibition featuring recent canvas paintings by Hermann Nitsch, dating from 2002 to 2021.
Recognized as a pivotal figure in the Viennese Actionism movement of the 1960s, Hermann Nitsch, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 83, continued to employ this groundbreaking approach to painting throughout his artistic journey, primarily through his creation of the Orgien Mysterien Theater, a concept akin to Wagner's Gesamtkunstwerk (total artwork). This comprehensive art form engages all five human senses and encourages profound existential contemplation. Hermann Nitsch crafted his paintings by engaging his entire body, making them both the genesis and culmination of his performances. Employing a blend of oil and acrylic paints in specific shades, he applied them to the canvas using unorthodox implements and his own hands, feet, and bodily movements, resulting in expressive abstractions that emerged through a highly physical and gestural process. Through these actions, Nitsch revealed his vibrant, spiritual, sensual, and fervent persona. The apparent chaos and violence that accompany his work actually serve as a celebration of life and a reflection of the human soul.
