What is Conceptual Art?

Definition:

Conceptual art is art in

which the concept(s) or

idea(s) involved in the work

take precedence over

traditional aesthetic and

material concerns

R.Mutt / Duchamp “Fountain” 1917

Picasso 1942

Conceptual art was intended to convey a concept to the viewer,

rejecting the importance of the creator or a talent in the

traditional art forms such as painting and sculpture.

“In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important

aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of

art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made

beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The

idea becomes a machine that makes the art. ” —Sol LeWitt

Joseph Beuys

1921-1986

The Legend of Beuys

Signature Materials of Fat and Felt

Wolf packBeuys asks us to

look at his work in

the point of view

of a German who

shared in the

devastation and

guilt following

WWII.

The Pack

piano

In this sculpture the felt takes on a suppressive role. The piano, an object used

for individual expression, is completely encased in the thick heavy material. In

this case the felt suppresses expressive qualities of the object it entombs. If we

think about the policies the National Socialists enacted against artists and

musicians in Germany.

Plight (piano room)

In “Plight” the felt again surrounds the piano.

Some have noted that the size and shape of the felt bundles are similar to that

discovered in Auschwitz…bails of human hair which was processed and made

into felt. This potential meaning also allows us to look at the Felt suit in a

different way.

Felt suit

• Beuys Felt

Suit…

hearth

Auchswitz demonstration

Nuremburg action

Pipes (environment)

Abandoned sleep of all my loves

Pain room

7000 oaks

PerformanceHow to Explain (Modern Painting) to a Dead Hare

“Even in death a hare has more sensitivity and

instinctive understanding than some men with their

stubborn rationality."

Beuys in America

In 1974, Joseph Bueys visited

America for the 1st time.

As an illustration of his confidence

in his theories and abilities…

Instead of bringing with him

sculptures or objects,

He came empty handed and

planned an exhibition tour of ideas.

He set out on a 10 day, three city

lecture tour of New York, Chicago

and Minneapolis, creating art

objects, actions and “multiples”

along the way.

multiples Act as reminders

Multiples

“Energy Plan

for the

Western Man”

Creativity = Capital

Art as teaching, not teaching art

Art as Teaching, Not Teaching Art

Joseph Beuys

believed passionately

that art should change

the way people think.

Open admittance policy

• Beuys imagined that an

expanded application of

human creativity would

result in something he called

“Social Sculpture”.

• Social Sculpture was

broadly defined as a

conscious and continuing act

of shaping all human

systems (political systems,

the economy, or a

classroom, etc) from a

chaotic state to a form, or

structure.

• Social Sculpture should be

accomplished collectively,

cooperatively, and across

disciplines.

• Life must be renewed by the

lessons of art in order to be

sustained.

Intuition

“Intuition”

Joseph Kosuth

Jenny Holzer

A controversial movement, supporters believe that

Conceptual art expanded the boundaries of art and stopped

the influence of commercialism. Critics see the movement as

dull and pretentious. Although some Conceptual artists

attempted to make serious political and social statements,

more often than not they were preoccupied with analyzing the

nature of art. Conceptual art was the forerunner for

installation, digital, and performance art, more generally art

that can be experienced.