Alfred Hrdlicka

He saw his oeuvre as a political commentary and as a way to raise awareness. In his many drawings and etchings, Hrdlicka showed up the failings of various historical, literary and artistic heroes. He also created stage sets and plays. The focus of his oeuvre was on the human body, which he explored through intensive anatomical studies, and on people’s psychological turmoil, abysmally low points and sufferings, which are reflected in their bodies. Throughout his life, he also took an interest in the world of mental illness. In 1962, Hrdlicka joined the Viennese Secession. In 1964, he took part in the Venice Biennial. Hrdlicka had professorships in art at the universities of Stuttgart, Hamburg, Berlin and Vienna. Major retrospectives were held at the Kunsthalle in Schwäbisch Hall in 2008 and at the Belvedere in Vienna in 2010.