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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14.02. – 27.07.2025

 

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Thomas Feuerstein

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14.02. – 27.07.2025

 

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Thomas Feuerstein

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Dates & Events

Exhibition: 14.02.2025 – 27.07.2025

Four Actions

With its second exhibition, the WAM is now going into greater depth. The opening exhibition WHAT IS VIENNA ACTIONISM? first offered an overview of the multi-layered developments of this movement in the 1960s, whereby the individual actions were only presented with exemplary photos. Now, under the title FOUR ACTIONS, an exhibition series is being launched that presents selected actions with all the available historical material. In this way, it will be possible for the first time to understand the actions in all their detail. The aim of the exhibition is to open up new perspectives on the reception of Vienna Actionism through the precise examination of individual actions.

April 2025

April 12, Saturday,  3:00 pm

Public guided tour (DE)

Tour through the current exhibition.

April 13, Sunday,  4:00 pm

Director’s tour (DE)

Our director Julia Moebus-Puck gives a personal insight into the development of Vienna Actionism.

April 17, Thursday,  6:30 pm

WAM-TALK – ART AND POLITICS

Art critic Larissa Kikol and Wolfgang Zinggl, founder of the WochenKlausur group, in conversation with WAM director Julia Moebus-Puck.

Although the Viennese Actionists did not see themselves as directly politically active artists, they were always politicised by their relentlessly direct approach to the taboo boundaries of the time. In the WAM talk, we will discuss whether and how art can/should/must fulfil political purposes and to what extent radicalism is related to authenticity.

April 26, Saturday,  3:00 pm

Public guided tour (DE)

Tour through the current exhibition.