Stasys Museum: Hermann Nitsch’s exhibition “Gesamtkunstwerk” exhibited for the first time in Lithuania

Starting this Friday, 29 November, Stasys Museum invites visitors to an exceptional cultural event – the exhibition “Gesamtkunstwerk” (eng. “total work of art”) by the famous Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch, presented in Lithuania for the first time. “Gesamtkunstwerk” displays an extensive collection of the artist’s work from Graz art collectors and the Vienna-based Nitsch Foundation. This exhibition, intended only for visitors of adult age (N-18), invites you to an unconventional world of art, where provocation and existential questions are being merged.

A bold choice

“The museum, which has been operating for only half a year, can already accept the work of an artist of this scale – this is an incredible achievement. This exhibition fulfills the promise made to the visitors at the beginning of the year – to present alongside the work of Stasys Eidrigevičius artists who have gained international recognition,” says the director of the museum, Vaida Andrijauskaitė. According to her, Hermann Nitsch’s work is a bold choice, and the exhibition opens-up opportunities for intercultural dialogue, even if it is not always a comfortable one. The head of the museum has no doubt that it was brave to choose the works of Hermann Nitsch, the central figure of the Viennese actionism movement, as the first foreign exhibition at Stasys Museum.

Provocative creation: between art and existence

Hermann Nitsch is a pioneer of the Viennese actionism movement, whose work often transcends the boundaries of traditional art perception. His performances, called actions, use such means of expression as paint, blood, wine, fruit juice or animal bodies. These works are intended not only for aesthetic impression, but also for the exploration of being, life and death, and reflect Nitsch’s desire to combine different art forms into a single whole – called a “total work of art”.

According to exhibition curator Lina Albrikienė, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the world of Nitsch’s performances, see the documentation of the first six-day “Theatre of Orgy Mysteries”, his paintings, called action paintings, and the artist’s philosophical quotes. Visitors will also be able to see the film “Scenes from the Life of Hermann Nitsch”, symbolizing the partnership between Hermann Nitsch and the Lithuanian creator Jonas Mekos, which will be shown in a special space of the museum.

“This exhibition expands the boundaries of art dialogue and invites to a conversation that is bold, but at the same time raises deep existential questions,” says the curator.

Curator Lina Albrikienė by P. Židonis

Exhibition and events

The works of Hermann Nitsch are exhibited on the fourth floor of the Stasys Museum, next to the hugely popular permanent exhibition of Stasys Eidrigevičius “ICON-O-STASYS”.

On 29 November, 6 p.m. the opening of the exhibition will be held in the museum with the curator Lina Albrikiene. Due to the limited number of places, visitors are invited to register for the event on the museum’s website. Admission to the exhibition will be free on the opening day, and visitors who purchase tickets on the weekend will be able to take part in free guided tours.

The philosophy of the exhibition

“Gesamtkunstwerk”, a German term meaning “total work of art”, perfectly describes Hermann Nitsch’s desire to combine different art forms into a single whole. The term is associated with the German composer Richard Wagner, whose idea of the unity of art forms inspired Nitsch’s work.

The exhibition will run until 2025 March 30

Stasys Museum invites visitors until Spring 2025 to experience the creative journey of Hermann Nitsch. Information on exhibition events and registration is available here.

Museum opening hours:

Tuesdays – Saturdays 11:00-19:00, Sundays – 12:00-17:00.