Arnulf Rainer is one of the most renowned contemporary Austrian artists. His paintings are characteristic of the expressionism and actionism of post-World War II Viennese art. Highly innovative and theatrical, Rainer’s work explores the causes and limitations of artistic expression, pushing methodology and subject matter to extreme states of subjective experience. Rainer himself created the poster designs for almost all his exhibitions, as well as for collaborative cultural projects such as theater productions. For each poster, he produced a variety of designs and graphic detailing that were eventually brought together in the production process. ”Arnulf Rainer. Overwritings” will provide an insight into this intense and concentrated working method. The artist’s loan of the original drawings and designs for his posters to the MAK has made it possible to juxtapose the designs and the printed posters, surveying different stages in the work of along his exhibition history. The original drawings will be acquired for the MAK Collection Contemporary Art.

Curator Peter Noever