Mama and Papa 3 1964

Otto Muehl made this photograph, Mama and Papa 3, as a record of a performance. It’s an image thick with chaos, with a stark monochrome palette that throws the whole scene into sharp relief. The texture here is palpable - the sheen of skin, the dullness of fabric, the smooth curves of that balloon. You can almost feel the stickiness of whatever’s been splattered around. Look at the way the light catches the woman's back, how the shadow defines the curve of the balloon. Muehl isn’t hiding anything, he's laying bare the raw physicality of the moment. Muehl was part of the Viennese Actionists, a group known for their extreme performances. You could compare him to someone like Carolee Schneemann, another artist who pushed boundaries and explored the body as a site of artistic expression. Ultimately, this piece, like all art, is an invitation to see the world a little differently. It's not about answers, but about questions.