Viennese Actionism

The term Viennese Actionism describes a short and violent movement in 20th century art that can be regarded as part of the many independent efforts of the sixties to develop "action art" (Fluxus, Happening, Performance, Body Art, etc.). Its main participants were Günter Brus , Adolf Frohner , Otto Mühl, Hermann Nitsch, Alfons Schilling and Rudolf Schwarzkogler . As "actionists," they were active between 1960 and 1971. Most have continued their artistic work in an independent way from the early 1970s onwards.

Further Reading

• Von der Aktionsmalerei zum Aktionismus. Wien 1960-1965, Klagenfurt, Ritter-Verlag, 1988.
• Wiener Aktionismus. Wien 1960-1971, Klagenfurt, Ritter-Verlag, 1989.
• Der Wiener Aktionismus und die Österreicher, Klagenfurt, Ritter-Verlag, 1995
• Out of Actions. Actionism, Body Art & Performance 1949-1979 (Exhibition catalogue), Vienna-Stuttgart, MAK/Cantz, 1998.
• Brus Muehl Nitsch Schwarzkogler. Writings of the Viennese Actionists, London, Atlas Press, 1999.