(b. in Ardning, Styria, in 1938)
“Malerei – Selbstbemalung – Selbstverstümmelung”, 6 July 1965, location: Galerie Junge Generation, Börseplatz, 1010 Vienna, documentation: photography by L. Hoffenreich, 11 photographs, vintages, gelatine silver prints, each with photographer’s copyright stamp on the reverse, each approx. 23.8 x 17.4 cm, (11), (EK)

Provenance:
From the family of an Art Club member

On 6 July, on the occasion of the opening night of his exhibition, Brus performed his 7th Action, “Painting – Self-Painting – Self-Mutilation”. In fact this was his first action performed in front of an audience. Apart from the event’s public character, it was interesting for Brus to be able to fully make use of a spacy room for his bodily action. Having been drawn into the room on a handcart loaded with a white-coated panel, he started painting on himself, drawing a black line across his body. With a mason’s tools and other instruments, he opened balloons filled with white paint that were attached to his body. The paint pouring forth was then smeared over his body. Subsequently he rolled around on the floor and crawled out of the gallery room, a mutilated creature.

Compare:
Wiener Aktionismus 1960–1971, Ritter Verlag, Klagenfurt 1989, 2nd vol., p. 172, fig. 9