WAM NEWS

7 th June 1968: Kunst und Revolution (Art and Revolution)

On June 7, 1968, Brus, Muehl, Weibel and Wiener took part in the event Kunst und Revolution (Art and Revolution) in Lecture Hall I at the University of Vienna, which can be considered the most political event of Vienna Actionism. In a speech there, Muehl insulted Robert Kennedy, who had just been murdered, and his family before Weibel attacked the Austrian Finance Minister Stephan Koren.

Muehl then carried out extremely taboo-breaking body-analytical actions of a sexual nature: using a leather belt, he whipped the masked, self-confessed masochist Malte Olschewski, who visibly enjoyed this while reading out pornographic texts. Finally, Muehl organized a urination con- test with actors, which ended with simulated masturbation movements. Brus‘ body actions that evening were no less radical: he undressed, cut his chest and thigh with a razor blade, urinated in his hand, drank his urine and vomited. He then sang the national anthem, defecated, smeared his body with feces, vomited again and finally lay down on the lectern of the lecture hall to masturbate.

The presence of a journalist led to lurid reporting of the event. This caused a public scandal that resulted in the arrest of Brus, Muehl and Wiener, who were each remanded in custody for two months. After that Muehl had served the sentence that was finally imposed on him. Wiener was acquitted and released without receiving compensation. Only Brus was sentenced to five months in prison, which he evaded by fleeing to Berlin. Brus dealt with the events surrounding Kunst und Revoution in his two pamphlets Patent Urinoir and Patent Merde

Günter Brus
poster for the event Kunst und Revolution (Art and Revolution), three versions, 1968
silkscreen on paper
100 x 70 cm

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