Joseph Beuys

I like America and America likes me 

Joseph Beuys was a German happening and performance artist as well as a sculptor, instillation artist, graphic artist, and art theorist.

His extensive work is grounded in the concepts of humanism  social philosophy and anthroposophy. His career was characterised by passionate, even acrimonious public debate, but he is now regarded as one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century.

'I like america and america likes me' was a performance he did in 1974, joseph beuys was a flux artist ( part of the fluxist movement in Germany). It was his first time in america when he did this piece, and it was a very different concept at the time. He wanted to show that anybody could do art. So he flew from Germany to JFK airport, wrapped in a felt blanket and put on a stretcher because he didn't want to step foot on america. His friends put him in an ambulance and he was then rushed to the site. When he was there, Joseph bueys was put into a room with a wild coyote and somevery particular items; a straw bed, a shepherds staff, and around his neck he wore a triangle, people say that these items represent different things eg. the Coyote was symbolism of a strong native american presence before westernisation happened in the US. What is really interesting though is the role he himself plays, insinuating a sort of self healing process on his part. Joseph stayed in the room with the coyote for 3 days, 8 hours at a time and on the 3rd day the coyote warmed up to him and stopped being so aggressive. When he was asked th said the reasoning behind his performance was to isolate himself, so that the only thing he would thing of america would be how the coyote portrayed itself, but he is also saying that he doesn't want to experience the westernisation of american society.