LH Mikl-Leitner opens exhibition “Mein Nitsch”

From today, March 30th, up to and including November 30, 2025, the exhibition “Mein Nitsch”, curated by Karlheinz Essl, can be seen in the Nitsch Museum Mistelbach. On Saturday evening this was opened by Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who immediately underlined at the beginning: “This exhibition not only recognizes the artist Nitsch, but also the close connection and friendship of Nitsch and Karlheinz Essl.” A very personal exhibition for which she is very grateful because she allows a very personal, new view of Nitsch.

Mikl-Leitner told about her encounters with the artist, each of whom was “an experience”. “He always captivated me during our conversations, because he was not just one of the most important artists of our time, he was an extraordinary person and a universal genius as a painter, musician and composer.”

The governor also spoke about the great importance of Hermann Nitsch for the Weinviertel and far beyond: “Nitsch was an artist of world rank, an ambassador of Lower Austria in the world, during his lifetime and far beyond his death.” He had given the cultural country of Lower Austria an unmistakable profile, “and therefore it is no coincidence that he is dedicated to his own museum here in Mistelbach” – the Nitsch Museum, which is now one of the largest monographic museums in Austria.

Karlheinz Essl, art collector and curator of the exhibition, presented his personal view of the artist and friend Hermann Nitsch in “Mein Nitsch”, he said in his opening speech. For this he opened his comprehensive archives and private art collection. “This exhibition is a psychogram of this universal artist,” said Essl at the opening. He wanted to portray him very differently than the world knows and perceive him. The curator said: “At the end of Nitsch’s earthly existence you experience a risen Nitsch in the exhibition, without red color, but shaped by intense colors.” According to Essl, the exhibition is “my legacy to this great artist.”

For the first time to see in the exhibition, the “White Picture” by Hermann Nitsch is. All details about “Mein Nitsch” online: www.nitschmuseum.at