WestLicht will begin the exhibition year 2009 with a show concerned with the methodological approach to photography in Viennese Actionism – 40 years after Rudolf Schwarzkogler’s death.

This art movement, which is limited to a period of approximately ten years, is one of the most important Austrian contributions to the development of the international avant-garde. The artists attempted to break through the well-established and, above all, standardised definitions of art using radical, provocative and consistent actions. Their search for new forms of expression also determined a new interdisciplinary approach to the medium of photography which was then taken up by the international art scene.

The show will be concentrating on the main representatives of Viennese Actionism Günter Brus, Hermann Nitsch, Otto Muehl and Rudolf Schwarzkogler. The exhibits come from the Philipp Konzett collection. This is the first time in Austria that a show has been dedicated to photography during Viennese Actionism in such a concentrated form. Focussing on the earliest authentic prints enables an introduction to the subject that is almost didactic in quality. Along with important vintage prints which are being publicly shown for the first time, extensive documentary material will be also be presented.

The exhibition will be curated by Dr. Hubert Klocker, author and curator of numerous publications and exhibitions on the subject of Viennese Actionism.