German Fluxus, Joseph Beuys, was a performance artist, sculptor, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist. Beuys main concept investigates humanism, social philosophy and anthroposophy; accumulating an extended definition of art claiming “a creative, participatory role in shaping society and politics.” “He is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century.”
In 1982, for documenta 7, Beuys proposed to plant 7000 oaks each paired with a basalt stone. The 7000 stones were piled up next to an old oak tree in front of the Museum Fridericianum. The concept seen as a gesture to green urban renewal, the idea was that the smaller the pill of stone the more tees in the cities. The installation took five years to complete over different cities around the world. “Beuys's concerted effort to physically, spiritually and metaphorically alter the city's social spaces - economic, political, and cultural, among others - is what finally constituted a community-wide ‘social sculpture’“ A living sculpture and a performance that will never end.
When looking at this piece it seems to me as an incorporating of time into sculpture. The pairing of basalt stone and the oak tree, results in the tree forever growing surpassing the size of the stone that once was the same size. To me it is as though the rock resembles the building structures remaining as they were the time they were built, the tree resembling nature taking over and blooming more than a building ever could. It’s a nod to the world that we can live with nature without destroying it. The natural element of the oak as well as the natural basalt juxtapositions the location of a city, made up of man-made elements is a “process work of environmentalism and eco-urbanization.” Although the mediums used are natural, yet they have elements to them thrust-ed there by man. The stone is cut by man and placed in the environment of a city, this applies to the oak tree as this too has been grown as a sapling by man and moved to its residing space. It almost feels as though these natural elements have been plucked out of nature and forced to live in an environment they wouldn’t ’choose’ to be in. Its this evolving cycle of nature being taken over by man and then man trying to re-correct himself by taking nature from nature and placing it back into the man-made environment that was once theirs. The tree now in this unnatural environment relies on man to care for it. In relation to the critical texts I explored in my research report this work relies on its audience to care for its future existence. Although Beuys is no longer alive the relationship between the artwork and the audience is of simple means, with most seeing it as a tree planted in the city, not knowing of its origin. The large community project creates an environment of togetherness and community spirit bringing people together. The collective of natural and man-made as well as community involvement works as a coherent unit within this piece.
Personally I appreciated the sheer scale and dedication it took to create this piece. In my own work I like to take inspirations from nature and changes their original intention to symbolises an event or matter. In Beuys’s piece it feels as though each tree and each rock symbolises how we should embrace nature and how we can live with it without destroying it. I also love the simplicity and the natural forms which is highly present within my work.
Researched used:
In 1982, for documenta 7, Beuys proposed to plant 7000 oaks each paired with a basalt stone. The 7000 stones were piled up next to an old oak tree in front of the Museum Fridericianum. The concept seen as a gesture to green urban renewal, the idea was that the smaller the pill of stone the more tees in the cities. The installation took five years to complete over different cities around the world. “Beuys's concerted effort to physically, spiritually and metaphorically alter the city's social spaces - economic, political, and cultural, among others - is what finally constituted a community-wide ‘social sculpture’“ A living sculpture and a performance that will never end.
When looking at this piece it seems to me as an incorporating of time into sculpture. The pairing of basalt stone and the oak tree, results in the tree forever growing surpassing the size of the stone that once was the same size. To me it is as though the rock resembles the building structures remaining as they were the time they were built, the tree resembling nature taking over and blooming more than a building ever could. It’s a nod to the world that we can live with nature without destroying it. The natural element of the oak as well as the natural basalt juxtapositions the location of a city, made up of man-made elements is a “process work of environmentalism and eco-urbanization.” Although the mediums used are natural, yet they have elements to them thrust-ed there by man. The stone is cut by man and placed in the environment of a city, this applies to the oak tree as this too has been grown as a sapling by man and moved to its residing space. It almost feels as though these natural elements have been plucked out of nature and forced to live in an environment they wouldn’t ’choose’ to be in. Its this evolving cycle of nature being taken over by man and then man trying to re-correct himself by taking nature from nature and placing it back into the man-made environment that was once theirs. The tree now in this unnatural environment relies on man to care for it. In relation to the critical texts I explored in my research report this work relies on its audience to care for its future existence. Although Beuys is no longer alive the relationship between the artwork and the audience is of simple means, with most seeing it as a tree planted in the city, not knowing of its origin. The large community project creates an environment of togetherness and community spirit bringing people together. The collective of natural and man-made as well as community involvement works as a coherent unit within this piece.
Researched used:
- https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/beuys-7000-oak-trees-ar00745
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE87qEUtApI
- https://uk.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2014/may/12/how-joseph-beuys-celebrated-his-63rd-birthday/
- https://allartisquiteuseful.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/jospeh-beuys-7000-oaks/
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