Otto Kobalek
Otto Kobalek , actually Krbalek (* 1930 in Vienna ; † 1995 ), was a Viennese original and part-time artist in the environment of Helmut Qualtinger . He was also known under the pseudonym Otto Zokan .
Life
Otto Kobalek, son of a Viennese coal merchant and at times worked as a coal carrier, worked as a happening artist of the first vienna working group: motion with Joe Berger and also called himself a worker poet, habitually levied the "Kobalek tax" in the trendy restaurant Gutruf , a "Zwonek" (twenty shillings). Regardless of these donations, Kobalek was feared for his abuse. Six of Kobalek's parodic poems have survived. One of them ends with the words: “And the world goes to the bottom - I love you and the party and the trade union federation”.
Actually, Kobalek's most important appearance was that as Godot in the theater in Liliengasse. In a performance of Samuel Beckett's play for the Theater der Jugend , Otto Kobalek appeared unexpectedly on stage, a plastic bag in hand. According to Thaddäus Podgorski, he said to the actors and audience: “Godot is here. You don't have to wait any longer. ”Helmut Qualtinger then contacted Samuel Beckett himself, who was delighted. For the first time in the history of literature Godot appeared. Kobalek spent the last years of his life in the Caritas nursing home in Weidling , a district of Klosterneuburg .
Kobalek has also emerged as a member of the Vienna Art Orchestra , he was involved in the production of the record Jessas na as a singer. Kobalek's half-brother, 17 years his junior, was the artist Franz West .
literature
- Worker poet Kobalek. In: Heiner Boberski , Thomas Schaller, Peter Gnaiger , Robert Weichinger , Martin Haidinger : Mächtig. Male. Mysterious. Secret societies in Austria. Ecowin, 2005, pp. 285-286. ISBN 978-3-711-05033-5 ( limited preview in Google Book Search)
documentation
- Kobalek or the visible and the hidden. (Documentary film; 62 min .; script, direction, production: Susanne Freund ; 1990)
Web links
- ORF report on Kobalek and the Gutruf
- Uncle Ho doesn't go to the bathroom either . In: Der Spiegel . No. 39 , 1969 ( online - appearance by Joe Bergers and Otto Kobalek at the festival at Burg Waldeck ).
- Otto Kobalek at Discogs (English)
- Otto Kobalek in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ “Broadway-Melodie 1492”, July 1950, Vienna, playgroup of the union youth (= playgroup of graphic artists); I: Otto Kobalek (= Otto Zokan). In: Jura Soyfer . 1946–1973 performances. .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Kobalek, Otto |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Zokan, Otto (pseudonym) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Austrian artist and Viennese original |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1930 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Vienna |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1995 |