Living Artist Skin Auction Cancelled After Collector Buys All Lots in Advance
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The auction of the tattooed skin of Austrian performance artist Wolfgang Flatz has been canceled after all 12 pieces were purchased by a collector for a seven-figure sum. The sale was scheduled to take place at Munich’s modern and contemporary art museum, the Pinakothek der Moderne, on February 8th. The Swiss collector who bought the lots will receive black-and-white photographs until the pieces are transferred posthumously, with one remaining piece going to the artist’s son. The tattoos include the artist’s name in Cyrillic and a quote by Cicero.
The auction, titled “To Risk One’s Own Skin,” was set to be led by Christie’s chairman, Dirk Boll. The event was meant to precede a retrospective of Flatz’s work at the Munich museum, which features a work allowing visitors to throw darts at the artist’s body. Some of the proceeds will go towards the museum’s Bavarian State Painting Collections and the Flatz Foundation.
The sale highlights ethical and legal challenges surrounding avant-garde artwork, particularly related to the Viennese Actionism movement. The legality of selling human tissue in the art context remains uncharted territory, with past instances including Marc Quinn’s sculpture made from his own frozen blood. Other artists, such as Wim Delvoye and Rick Gibson, have also faced legal issues over their use of human tissues in their work.
Major shows and upcoming museums dedicated to the Vienna Actionism movement aim to provide a deeper understanding of the movement and its impact on the art world.
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Cillian O’Rourke, studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland, where he majored in Visual Communication. His work spans graphic design, illustration, and branding, with a distinct minimalist style that emphasizes simplicity and impact. Cillian has collaborated with international brands and runs his own design studio focusing on creative solutions for startups.