„Arbeit ist Kunst. Kunst ist Arbeit“ (eng: "Work is art. Art is work.")

Anatol Herzfeld (1931–2019) was an actionist through and through. Action art, as it emerged in the early 1960s in the context of Concept Art, Fluxus, and Happenings, lies at the heart of his wide-ranging body of work. At the WELTKUNSTZIMMER in Düsseldorf – from September 3 to September 27, 2020 – Anatol’s actions are, for the first time, placed at the center of an exhibition. This marks the first tribute following Anatol’s passing in May 2019. The exhibition presents, for the first time, a cohesive overview of Anatol’s contributions to the action art of the 1960s and 1970s.
Ten of Anatol’s actions are presented individually through image and sound documentation, making them tangible once again—from Stahltisch (Creamcheese Düsseldorf, 1968) and Zyklus der blauen Schmetterlinge (Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, 1969) to Traumschiff Tante Olga (Kassel, 1977), among others. For Anatol, “action art” as he understood and practiced it, was part of the “expanded concept of art” shaped by his teacher and role model at the Düsseldorf Art Academy, Joseph Beuys (1921–1986). 

The multimedia exploration undertaken by visitors to the exhibition will shed light on the connections between Anatol’s work and the broader context of action art. Along the way, visitors will encounter rare gems—previously unpublished historical documents in image and sound—brought to light through our research. Rediscovered “relics” from various “actions” will create a bridge to Anatol’s sculptural practice, offering deeper insight into the unity of his artistic vision.
A supporting program complements the exhibition: Anatol. Aktionist.
A book on Anatol’s actions is currently in preparation.