Joseph Beuys BIOGRAPHY
Early Life and Education
Joseph Beuys was born in Krefeld, Germany, on 12 May 1921, to Josef Jakob Beuys, a merchant, and Johanna Maria Margarete. The family later moved to Kleve, a town in Germany’s Lower Rhine region.
Beuys attended the Katholische Volksschule for primary education and then the Staatliches Gymnasium Cleve for secondary education.
During his school years, he displayed a talent for drawing and took piano and cello lessons. He also had a keen interest in the natural sciences, Nordic history, and mythology.
Encounter with Nazism
In 1933, Beuys witnessed the Nazi Party’s book-burning in Kleve, where he managed to save the book Systema Naturae by Carl Linnaeus from the flames.
In 1936, he joined the Hitler Youth, as was common for many German children and adolescents at the time. He participated in the Nuremberg rally when he was 15 years old.
Initially interested in pursuing a career in medical studies due to his passion for the natural sciences, Beuys later turned his focus to sculpture, likely influenced by Wilhelm Lehmbruck’s works.
Graduation and Beyond
Beuys successfully earned his Abitur in the spring of 1941, completing his secondary education. This marked the beginning of his artistic journey, which would later make him one of the most influential figures in the world of contemporary art.
What is Joseph Beuys known for?
Joseph Beuys is known for being a prominent German artist, teacher, and social activist. He was a pioneering figure in the world of contemporary art.
Career highlights
Artistic Development
After the war, Beuys pursued his passion for art and enrolled at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Art Academy) in 1947. He studied under renowned sculptor Ewald Mataré, who played a crucial role in shaping his early artistic style.
Beuys became interested in sculpture and later expanded his practice to include drawings, performances, and installations.
In the 1960s, Beuys became associated with the Fluxus movement, an avant-garde art movement that emphasized experimentation, collaboration, and blurring the boundaries between different art forms.
Beuys was known for his unique approach to art, which often involved the application of philosophical concepts to his pedagogical practice. One of his notable performances, “How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare,” exemplified his artistic style.
In this performance, Beuys spent three hours explaining his art to a dead hare while his head was covered with honey and gold leaf. He considered both the honey and the hare as models of thinking and embodied ideas in forms.
Teaching as the Greatest Work of Art
Beuys famously proclaimed, “teaching is my greatest work of art.” He saw himself as more than just an artist but also as a teacher or shaman who could guide society towards a new direction.
He engaged in open “ring discussions” where he and his students discussed political and philosophical issues of the day, fostering a dynamic learning environment.
The Artist as Shaman
Beuys adopted shamanism as both a presentation mode of his art and a way of life. He sought to reconnect people with their spirituality and thinking powers to create a more holistic vision of the world.
His performance art was seen as shamanistic and psychoanalytic, aiming to educate and heal the public. Beuys used symbolic manipulation to affect his audience and believed that his “personal crisis” and depression served as a shamanistic initiation.
Joseph Beuys List of Work
Iconic Performances and Works
Joseph Beuys was known for his compelling and thought-provoking performances, often combining elements of ritual and symbolism.
Here are some of his most notable creations:
How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare (performance, 1965):
- Beuys covered his face with honey and gold leaf while cradling a dead hare in his arms
- The materials used had symbolic value, representing warmth, brotherhood (honey), alchemy (gold), and strength (iron).
- Beuys sought to convey the complexity of creative areas and the importance of intuition in understanding art.
The Chief – Fluxus Chant (performance, installation, 1963–1964):
- Beuys wrapped himself in a large felt blanket, with two dead hares protruding from either end.
- He made various sounds and breathed into a microphone, emphasizing communication beyond human semantics.
- The performance explored levels of communication and instinctual powers, engaging the audience’s imagination.
Infiltration Homogen for Piano (performance, 1966):
- Beuys covered a piano entirely in felt with red crosses on its sides, rendering it silent.
- The work symbolized the potential for sound and creativity to be stifled and suppressed.
- He discussed the tragedy of Thalidomide children during the performance, highlighting their plight.
I Like America and America Likes Me (performance, 1974):
- Beuys spent three days in a room with a coyote, interacting symbolically with the essence of America. The performance reflected Beuys’s belief in the power of art to bring about revolutionary change.
Celtic (Kinloch Rannoch) Scottish Symphony, Celtic+, Agnus Vitex Castus, and Three Pots for The Poorhouse (performances 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973):
- Beuys collaborated with others in performances inspired by Celtic traditions, landscape, and myths.
- He used blackboards in discussions with the audience, encouraging dialogue and interaction.
- These performances were part of the larger concept of Social Sculpture, where society as a whole is a work of art.
7,000 Oaks (1982-1987):
- Beuys planted 7,000 oak trees in Kassel, Germany, as part of an environmental and social change project.
- Each stone moved required an oak tree to be planted in its new location, symbolizing interconnectivity.
- The project exemplified the concept of Social Sculpture, encouraging interdisciplinary and participatory contributions.
“Sonne statt Reagan” (1982):
- Beuys recorded a music video featuring his song “Sonne statt Reagan,” an anti-Reagan political piece. The song conveyed Beuys’s liberal, pacifist political attitude and openness to exploring different media forms.
Legacy and Influence
Joseph Beuys passed away on January 23, 1986, in Düsseldorf, Germany, but his legacy as an influential artist and social activist continues to be celebrated worldwide.
His works are exhibited in prestigious museums and galleries, and his ideas about art and society remain relevant and influential in contemporary art discourse.
NFTs and Joseph Beuys’s Legacy
In recent years, the art world has witnessed the rise of NFTs, a technology that has revolutionized the way digital art is bought, sold, and authenticated.
NFTs allow artists to tokenize their digital creations, creating unique and verifiable ownership records on blockchain networks. While Joseph Beuys, a renowned 20th-century artist, did not directly engage in NFTs during his lifetime, his legacy and pioneering concepts have left an indelible mark on the art community and might hold relevance to the NFT movement.
More about Joseph Beuys
Visit the official website to explore the full list of Beuys’s works and stay informed about any recent updates.