Lot 623 R

Against the backdrop of a spirit of renewal and the effects of the 1960s and 1970s, the Austrian-born Otto Muehl developed a broadly diversified life's work of happenings and artistic creation in which the artist turns against uniform and inflexible social structures. Otto Muehl's life and work are closely interwoven. In the foreground is the foundation of a legendary commune in which Muehl's radical opinions on free sexuality was practised in addition to the abolition of couple and family relationships.
The artistic work becomes known in connection with Viennese Actionism. Similar to his companions from the group of actionists, the human body is the preferred focus of attention from the 1960s onwards. The uninhibited depiction of sexuality and perversion as well as the contemplation of violence and aggression in human relationships pertains to the artist's oeuvre from now on. Contrary to any mainstream, the aim is to overcome prudishness and to accept the illustration of physical experimental scope in pictures and actions. Furthermore, the socio-political position of the artwork is highlighted due to its increased potential for change. 'However, the paintings are not primarily convincing due to their content but due to their formal structure, colour scheme, brush stroke, and colour application, in short, due to their largely uninhibited sensuality. And to attain such sensuality was by all means part of the program of the attacks on the “character shield” carried out for many years [...].' (Diethard Leopold, in: Diethard Leopold (ed.) Otto Muehl, Sammlung Leopold, exhib.cat. Leopold Museum, Vienna, Vienna 2010, p.36).