Herman Nitsch

Born on August 29, 1938, in Vienna, Nazi Germany – and passing away on April 18, 2022, in Mistelbach, Lower Austria, Austria – Hermann Nitsch was an Austrian artist known for his experimental and multimedia works. He is considered one of the key figures of the avant-garde movement known as "Viennese Actionism."
Starting in the 1950s, Nitsch was the driving force behind the "Orgien Mysterien Theater", staging over 100 "performances." However, it was only with Performance No. 122 (called "Action 122") that one of his pieces was held in a proper theater, specifically at the Burgtheater in Vienna.
His performances, which involved slaughtered animals (such as lambs), fruits, music, dance, and audience participation, created an atmosphere considered by some to be blasphemous, often shocking. However, critics viewed them as ritualistic and existential.
His works can be seen as a critique of our culture's fixation on violence, which is prevalent in films, on television, and in video games.