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Otto Muehl Retrospective at Vienna Actionism Museum Courts Controversy in Advance of September Opening

The Vienna Actionism Museum (WAM) has been controversial since it opened in March 2024, which is perhaps not an entirely surprising outcome given the postwar movement’s penchant for violent, graphic performance art.   A new scandal is brewing as the museum prepares for its fall exhibition, dedicated to the work of Otto Muehl, one of the co-founders of Viennese Actionism. The show “Otto Muehl: Art on the Precipice” will feature 150 paintings, objects, film, and prints, some from the museum’s own extensive collection, others loaned by private collectors. It’s set to open on September 10 and will be on view through January 10, 2027. The controversy goes beyond the fact that many may find Muehl’s artwork involving graphic nudity, violence, and the use of blood and excrement as materials distasteful. He also founded a notorious commune in Friedrichshof, outside of Vienna, that was active in the 1970s and ‘80s. In 1991, Muehl was convicted of sexual offens...
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Matchday Scoring Highlights: Wellington U20s v Manawatu U20s

The two teams met in fine, breezy conditions at Rugby League Park on Saturday in round two of the 2026 Central Region Shield competition. In a close match, it was 5-5 at halftime, with Wellington scoring early and Manawatu replying soon after. Both sides missed chances to move further ahead in the first half, both...
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Auction Houses Won’t Sell a Keith Haring Drawing That Faced a Lawsuit

A Keith Haring drawing deemed authentic by a Superior Court judge but lacking sufficient provenance records to sell at Christie’s and Sotheby’s was the subject of a trial in Connecticut. The gallery that sold it ended up proving victorious. As reported by Greenwich Time , Nevada businessman Vernon Hartung bought the drawing of flying saucers from Martin Lawrence Galleries for $165,000 in 2018. But when he inquired about selling it at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, the two auction houses said the artwork’s documented history “did not meet their requirements for selling a Haring drawing as an authentic work,” according to trial records. Martin Lawrence Galleries then attempted to sell the work for Hartung, but he deemed potential prices ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 too low and sued the gallery for breach of contract and other claims related to the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. In a written decision in May, Judge Robert L. Genuario descri...
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Tech Billionaire Gets VIP Viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry, London’s Science Museum Ends 25-Year Relationship with BP, The Met Faces Backlash Over Planned John Galliano Exhibition, and More: Morning Links for August 31, 2026

To receive  Morning Links  in your inbox every weekday, sign up for our  Breakfast with ARTnews  newsletter . Good Morning! Ahead of its public opening, the British Museum privately hosted billionaire tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel for a VIP viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry. London’s Science Museum is ending its 25-year relationship with oil giant BP.  The Met’s decision to honor fashion designer John Galliano with its 2027 Costume Institute exhibition has triggered fierce backlash. The Headlines  DARK ARTS . The  British Museum privately hosted billionaire tech entrepreneur  Peter Thiel  for a VIP viewing of the  Bayeux Tapestry  before its public opening,  the Guardian reported. The visit, arranged by the museum’s development director, has raised concerns among staff about preferential treatment and the use of the fragile tapestry’s limited “light hours.” Thiel is not a museum donor, but...
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One opportunity at a time: Ashlee Matapo’s rise in Rugby League

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Ashlee Matapo with her parents and siblings, whose love and support have been central to her journey. Photo: Facebook Antonia Utanga-Taefu | Digital Producer From being the only girl on the field to making her mark on the NRLW stage, Ashlee Matapo has never been afraid to back herself. At 19, Ashlee Matapo has already achieved plenty in a short rugby league career. She joined the New Zealand Warriors as a development player in 2025, without expecting to play NRLW that season. But an opportunity came her way and she made her debut against the Sydney Roosters in Round 1. She went on to make eight appearances in her rookie season, finishing with 138 tackles and just one miss, a 99.2 per cent tackle efficiency. Matapo made eight appearances for the Warriors in her rookie NRLW season. “Getting the opportunity to debut was pretty special,...
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Sideline Conversions 31 August (some rugby news and information to start the week)

Action from Kilbirnie Park on Saturday in the National U85kg competition semi-final between Poneke and Pakuranga. Photo: Tane Nathan/Kinetic Images. Monday morning edition – updates expected: Another busy week and weekend of rugby coming up, with rugby on every day between today and Saturday across several age groups. This includes the annual Hurricanes regional U14...
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Eugene Fraser (15 July 1942 – 29 August 2026)

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The broadcaster whose voice travelled from Fiji to the BBC, Radio Victory and Tagata Pasifika . Celebrating the life and legacy of Eugene Fraser. Photo: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, 34-F0465. Graphic: TP+ Ngaire Fuata | Producer Some voices stay with you long after the microphone is switched off. Eugene Fraser had one of those voices – warm, reassuring and elegant. For many in New Zealand, he was a familiar face and voice on Tagata Pasifika during its early years. For listeners in Britain, he was the calm, measured voice of the BBC, even reading the iconic Shipping Forecast, one of the most recognisable broadcasts in British radio history. For those who knew him personally, though, Eugene’s greatest gift wasn’t simply his voice. It was his warmth, his wit and his charm. I first met Eugene more than three decades ...
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