About Joseph Beuys

Besides being an art theorist, graphic and installation artist and sculptor, Joseph Beuys was a Fluxus, Happening and performance artist that was born on 1921 in Krefeld, Germany, and died of a heart attack(because of an illness) on 1986 in Düsseldorf. He focused on aspects of anthroposophy, humanism and social philosophy, integrating the concept of social sculpture as a gesamtkunstwerk or "total and ideal work of art". It is an art that stoves to utilize and incorporate all the existing art forms. By "social sculpture", he meant the idea to the idea that art had the potential to change society or the environment. Many say that he shaped society and politics; in addition, he is considered to be one of the most influential performance artists in mid 1900's. He applied shamanism in his lifestyle as well as in his projects. He believed that humanity was slowly elimination emotions, what he describes as a major source of energy, imagination and creativity in each person, since society was shifting its view to rationality. He expressed his audience that they had to maintain their own "spiritual" side in order to incorporate emotions and feeling to the contribution of mankind. His works concentrate on four topics or concepts: traditional art (installations, sculpturing, painting and drawing), social and political actions,  contributions to the theory of art and academic teaching and performance. He was first involved in Fluxus, but then decided that he's points of views and beliefs were too different. 

   One of his most famous performances (the first one) was "How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare" presented in 1965, which he could be seen form the gallery glass windows. His face was covered with honey and gold leaf, and he had an iron slab attached to his boot, as he cradled a dead hare. He mumbled things and explained the drawing of the wall to the dead animal. Everything had a symbol. For example, talking to a dead hare meant that there are people in society that have less intuition than a dead animal, while honey, which was related to bees, represented the perfect society of warmth and compassion. In addition, the iron slab represented the principle of connection and strength with the earth. Examples of performances as this one are "EURASIA", "Scottish Symphony" and "Celtic" Another project he was known for was "I Like America and America Likes Me", which he spent eight hours for three days locked in his room with a wild coyote. 

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Sincerely,

Michelle