Animal rights groups have slammed a performance artwork due to take place at Hobart’s Dark Mofo festival this June. Hermann Nitsch’s 150.Action, billed by Dark Mofo as “a bloody, sacrificial ritual performed by the patriarch of Viennese Actionism, his devoted disciples and an orchestra,” will contain “distressing imagery, nudity and strong adult themes, and is not suitable for children” the festival’s website warns.

The head of RSPCA Tasmania has described the artwork as disrespectful to the animals involved and “tap dances across the line” of what is acceptable, reported The Guardian, while a petition by the animal rights group, Animal Liberation Tasmania, calling for Hobart City Council to intervene and stop the event has already garnered almost 12,000 signatures.

A performance artwork by Hermann Nitsch in Leipzig in 2013

“We are aware that a bull will be slaughtered specifically for usage in this bloody performance piece,” the petition reads. “We are opposed to this event, which trivialises the slaughter of animals for human usage, and condemns a sentient being to death in pursuit of artistic endeavours.”

Animal Liberation Tasmania’s...