Joseph Beuys

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Joseph Beuys (12 May 1921 – 23 January 1986) was a German conceptual artist, performance artist, sculptor, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist, and pedagogue. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Beuys's extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, social philosophy, and anthroposophy; it culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social sculpture as a gesamtkunstwerk, for which he claimed a creative, participatory role in shaping society and politics.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Beuys was born in Krefeld, Germany, but grew up in the nearby town of Kleve. During World War II, he served as a Luftwaffe radio operator and was severely injured when his plane was shot down in the Crimea. This experience profoundly influenced his later work, particularly his use of materials such as felt and fat, which he claimed were used by nomadic Tatar tribesmen to heal his wounds.

Artistic Career

Beuys studied at the Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts under Ewald Mataré and later became a professor there. His early works were influenced by Fluxus, a movement that emphasized the artistic process over the finished product. Beuys's performances, known as "actions," often involved ritualistic elements and were intended to provoke thought and discussion about social and political issues.

Notable Works

• How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare (1965): In this performance, Beuys covered his head with honey and gold leaf and whispered explanations of his drawings to a dead hare he carried in his arms.
• I Like America and America Likes Me (1974): Beuys spent three days in a room with a live coyote, symbolizing the relationship between European settlers and Native Americans.
• 7000 Oaks (1982): A long-term environmental project in which Beuys and volunteers planted 7,000 oak trees in Kassel, each paired with a basalt stone.

Social and Political Activism

Beuys was a founding member of the German Student Party and later the Green Party in Germany. He believed in the democratization of art and education and was an advocate for direct democracy. His concept of "social sculpture" proposed that society as a whole could be seen as one great work of art, with each individual contributing creatively to its shaping.

Legacy

Joseph Beuys's influence extends beyond the art world into social and political realms. His ideas about the role of the artist in society and the potential for art to bring about social change continue to inspire contemporary artists and activists.

Related Pages

• Conceptual art
• Performance art
• Fluxus
• Social sculpture
• Anthroposophy
• Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts
• Green Party (Germany)