The title “Blood” holds a significant meaning for the Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch. Since the early 1960s, he has curated more than 100 performances as part of his Orgien Mysterien Theater cycle. These performances, although centered around blood, are executed with meticulous care and thoughtful consideration. Nitsch directs and documents these performances, which involve naked individuals, an audience, blood, and canvases, creating truly magnificent works of art.
The performance itself is only one part of the larger art piece. The other part consists of the canvases, which are created using materials from the performances and sold by galleries all over the world. If you happen to find yourself in Vienna, be sure to inquire at the Tourist Office about any upcoming performances. And when you visit Naples, Italy, keep in mind that it is home to the largest Nitsch collection outside of Austria, housed in the http://www.museonitsch.org.
While Nitsch is known for his use of blood in his art, he is not the only one. Other artists, such as Marc Quinn, have also utilized blood in their work, freezing it into sculptures of human heads. And Eric Orr has used blood as paint for his paintings. Instead of being appalled by the use of blood in art, appreciate the beauty that can be created through its incorporation.
www.ftn-books.com has several Nitsch publications available
