bunnies + all that Easter stuff, etc. I've forgotten about Joseph Beuys + his attitude towards hares, vs humans + his art + art + revolution in general. Re: the transformative nature of art " At the Galerie Schmela in Dusseldort, on 26 November 1965, Beuys, his head covered in honey and gold leaf, took a dead hare in his arms and quietly carried it round the exhibition of his drawings and paintings, 'letting it touch the pictures with its paws'. Then he sat on a stool in a dimly lit corner and proceeded to explain the meaning of the works to the dead animal, 'because I do not really like explaining them to people', and since 'even in death a hare has more sensitivity and instinctive understanding than some men with their stubborn rationality'. I didn't get Joseph Beuys when I was a callow young art student. I thought he was uber cool but I didn't get him.
I have to say, after having read the article about him, that he sounds quite mad, especially in his 'Coyote' installation, wrapped in felt with a wild coyote defecating on him, etcetera. His installation with the cross on the blackboard and the dead hare also sounds rather mad. And I say this as one who finds the sight of a bunny very touching indeed.
Posted by: Bev | 04/04/2007 at 10:26 AM