During the 60s renowned film-maker Kurt Kren recorded actions and happenings by Viennese Actionists Otto Muehl and Günter Brus to make avant-garde 16mm films. Today these films, viewed in a different context from when they were made, are also considered as important art history documents on the practices of Muehl and Brus. Controversial, banned for their relation to violence and provocation, and taking place in illicit venues, the actions or happenings were a way to break the rules of conventional, acclaimed art and to draw attention to the profound disturbance of the political and social context of the time. Amongst other artists’ inner dilemmas, they also built on the still-fresh scars of World War II. Today, what these actions unveil above all is an aesthetic strength -transmitted via Kren’s specific skills in filmic montage as well as  their striking mise-en-scènes. They leave space for free interpretation of what a contemporary audience can take from them.

Curated by Anne-Sophie Dinant

Kurt Kren, 12/66 Cosinus Alpha (Aktion Otto Muehl), 1966, 16mm transferred to DVD, 9 min.

Kurt Kren, 6/64 Mama und Papa (Materialaktion Otto Muehl), 1964, 16mm transferred to DVD, 3min.

Kurt Kren, 7/64 Leda und der Schwan (Aktion Otto Muehl), 1964, 16mm transferred to DVD, 3min.

Kurt Kren, 8/64 Ana Aktion-Brus, 1964, 16mm transferred to DVD, 2min.

Kurt Kren, 9/64 O Tannenbaum (Aktion Otto Muehl), 1964, 16mm transferred to DVD, 3min.

Kurt Kren, 10/65 Selbstverstümmelung (Aktion Günter Brus), 1965, 16mm transferred to DVD, 5min.

Kurt Kren, 10b/65 Silber-Aktion Brus, 1965, 16mm transferred to DVD, 2min.

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