"Though best known for his psychologically intense " Übermahlungen," or overpaintings, Rainer's experiments touched on Surrealism, minimalism, and Abstract Expressionism, among other genres; throughout, he remained firm in his conviction that art should confront pain, suffering, and violence. Process, which he viewed as a meditative practice, was of tremendous import to him, and he frequently pushed himself to exhaustion to achieve the state in which he could best express himself."
"Arnulf Rainer was born in Baden, Austria, on December 28, 1929. In the 1940s, he moved to Vienna, where he briefly attended art school before dropping out in disgust. Among his earliest works are the " Zentralgestaltungen" (central compositions) of the late 1940s, for which he adopted the signature TRRR, meant to evoke the snarl of a dog. The " Kritzelexpressionen" (scribble expressions) and " Blindzeichnungen" (blind drawings) of 1949-52 responded to the Surrealist notion of écriture automatique,"
Arnulf Rainer died on December 18 at the age of ninety-six and was represented by gallery Thaddaeus Ropac. He is best known for intense Übermahlungen overpaintings that engaged Surrealism, minimalism, and Abstract Expressionism while insisting that art confront pain, suffering, and violence. Process functioned as a meditative practice for him, and he often pushed himself to exhaustion to reach expressive states. He was born in Baden on December 28, 1929, moved to Vienna in the 1940s, briefly attended and left art school, and developed early series including Zentralgestaltungen, Kritzelexpressionen, Blindzeichnungen, Proportionen, and Reduktionen.
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