GÜNTER BRUS (*1938) Lot n° 78

GÜNTER BRUS (*1938) | 'Strangulation', Vienna 1968 Image Size: 30,1 x 29,9 cm English: Unique vintage silver print on double-weight matte paper, in good condition. Photographer: Ludwig Hoffenreich (1902-1975). Signed in ink by Günter Brus, with stamp "Studio Morra, Napoli" and "diagramma milano", with a label with handwritten information on the work and edition note "Günter Brus: '20 settembre', azione, Vienna, 1967, 1/2, foto originale in due soli esemplari" (work title and date erroneous) on the reverse. Including an original poster of the same motif to announce the action "Zerreißprobe", offset-print 86 x 61 cm, signed by the artist in the lower image at right, in excellent condition. LITERATURE Eva Badura-Triska, Hubert Klocker (eds.), Vienna Actionism, Cologne 2012, p. 335. In December 1968, Brus held an action in his flat together with his wife Anni, which was documented by two 16mm film cameras as well as photographically. Ropes were attached to the upper frame of the flat door, from which Brus let himself hang upside down, his wife tied to the floor. The print offered here a unique vintage print; it served as a master copy for the poster, also part of this lot, announcing his last action "Zerreißprobe" in 1970, which took place in Berlin. Brus said about this drastic performance, that after that he only had the choice of "killing himself in front of the public or changing" (since then he has devoted himself to his graphic and literary work). German: Vintage silver gelatin print on matte "double-weight" paper, in very good condition (traces of use). Photographer: Ludwig Hoffenreich (1902-1975). Signed by Günter Brus in ink at lower left on the reverse, stamp "Studio Morra, Napoli" and "diagramma milano" as well as sticker with handwritten work data and edition note "Günter Brus: '20 settembre', azione, Vienna, 1967, 1/2, foto originale in due soli esemplari" (work title and dating incorrectly indicated). Enclosed the original poster with the same motif, announcing the action "Zerreißprobe", offset print 86 x 61 cm, signed by the artist lower right, in excellent condition. LITERATURE Eva Badura-Triska, Hubert Klocker (eds.), Wiener Aktionismus, Cologne 2012, p. 335. In December 1968 Brus held an action in his apartment together with his wife Anni, which was documented by two 16mm film cameras as well as photographically. Ropes were attached to the upper frame of the apartment door, from which Brus let himself hang upside down; his wife lay tied to the floor. The print offered here is a unique vintage print; it served as a master copy for the poster, also part of this lot, announcing his last action "Zerreißprobe", which took place in Berlin in 1970. About this drastic action Brus said that after that he only had the choice to "kill himself in front of an audience or to change" (since then he devoted himself to his graphic and literary work).