Scandal in Vienna: Man performs with Hitler salute as an art campaign

Scandal in Vienna: Man performs with Hitler salute as an art campaign

in Vienna-Floridsdorf occurred on Tuesday afternoon a scandalous incident when a 46-year-old man exposed his genitals in front of the official house and showed the Hitler salute. This bizarre campaign caused excitement among passers -by, who then alerted the police. The man described his behavior as a "art project" and emphasized that together with his 38-year-old companion, who filmed what was happening, he wanted to draw attention to the problems of humanity. According to Exxpress.at, this was not just an impulsive action, but should also serve as a drastic means of formation of consciousness.

Several eyewitnesses observed the action and called the police, who immediately arrived. The exposed was reported for his behavior due to violation of the prohibition law and due to public gender acts. In the event of an indictment, the crime of re -activation in front of jury could be negotiated. The companion of the man represented his actions as "the masterpiece of his life" and explained that he was "in the flow" when the police arrived. The State Office for State Protection and Extremism Control was informed about the incident and the 38-year-old is run as a witness.

art or provocation?

The incident raises fundamental questions about the combination of art and protest. Artistic forms of protest have been widespread since the 20th century. These movements often try to address social grievances, even if they are provocative or difficult to interpret. This is how [Deutschlandfunk Kultur] (https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/kunst-und-protest-clevere-strategy or-stoer-sto-der-100.html) that art can be used as a medium of protest and social discussion and can stimulate discussions through provocative actions.

Viennese actionism is a historical relationship, which was created after 1945 and understood art as a form of action. Artists like Günter Brus deal with society as well as challenging actions. His notorious action, in which he was painted by the streets of Vienna, illustrates the connection between art and public reaction. Such productions use public space to draw and provoke social grievances.

social relevance

art and protest are often deeply interwoven. Protest culture has its roots until the 16th century and is continued by diverse social movements, such as the women's rights and student movement of the 1960s. Initiatives such as the Center for Political Beauty (ZPS) actively use artistic means to draw attention to grievances. There is no obligation for art to be political, but many artists take up current topics and act as a corrective to society.

In this context, one could consider whether the 46-year-old man's action in Vienna should be perceived as art or as a disturbance. While some consider his actions to be legitimate and necessary for dialogue about social problems, it feels other than disgusting provocation. The open exchange about the borders of art and protest remains a central topic in our society.