Peter Gilles’ (1953–2017) artistic practice was firmly rooted in the context of performance and body art, which has challenged the boundaries between art and life since the late 1970s. Gilles worked under extreme conditions, such as on the edge of an active volcano, in oxygen deprivation, and to the point of total exhaustion. His goal was to trans-form pain and destruction into art.

His drawings, performances, and actions—especially his body prints made with his own blood—were fragments that helped him clarify his identity. They are assertions of self in extreme situations.

With his publication, Hartmut Kraft, who knew Gilles personally for decades, provides a comprehensive over-view of the artist’s work. His body imprints are presented alongside his drawings, some of which are large format. The book also includes a catalog of his actions and performances from 1978 to 2004.