Versumpfung Einer Venus 5 1963

Otto Muehl made this artwork called 'Versumpfung Einer Venus 5' without specifying the exact date, which kinda adds to the mystery, right? Looking at this image, I imagine Muehl in a shared studio space. A figure is seated and completely covered in thick layers of paint. Next to them, another figure, likely the artist, is also covered in paint. I wonder what it must have felt like for Muehl to create this piece? The messiness of the paint, the way it drips and oozes, speaks to a kind of physicality that’s both repulsive and fascinating. The monochrome tonality of the image throws into relief the physical textures. His practice reminds me of Carolee Schneemann, who also explored the relationship between the body and artistic creation. And of course, they are both taking cues from Gutai and Action Painting. Artists are always in conversation, responding to and building upon each other's ideas, right? This approach to art embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and challenging traditional notions of beauty and representation.