The artwork I am studying is how to explain pictures to a dead hare by Joseph Beuys.
At the beginning of the performance, Beuys locked the door of the gallery’s solo exhibition from the inside, leaving the gallery audience outside. So they can only observe the scene inside through the window. Beuys, whose head was smeared with honey and gold leaf, began explaining the painting to a dead rabbit. He whispers to the dead thing he is holding in his arms, and wanders the corridors, passing from one work to another. Occasionally he would stop and return to the center of the gallery; stepping on a dead fir tree lying on the ground. Three hours later, the onlookers were allowed into the room. Boyce, on the other hand, sat on a stool in the entrance area, with his arms around the hare, his back to the onlookers.
A: Joseph Beuys.
Q: For whom?
A: Humans in limitation.
Q: With what materials and metaphors?
A: The rabbit is the material.
Q: With what intention?
A: In many religions, the rabbit has a widespread, ancient, and symbolic meaning. For example, in Greek mythology, it is related to Aphrodite, the god of love; for the Romans and Germanic tribes, it is a strong symbol of fertility; and in Christianity, it is associated with resurrection. The “gold leaf mask” worn by Beuys during the performance also derived such interpretations, such as gold symbolizes the power of the sun, wisdom, and purity, while honey is a symbol of rebirth in Germanic culture.
Q: What impact?
A: This piece is meant to remind humans of their limitations.
Q： Did the artist identify a public or create a counterpublic?
A: Public. This piece is meant to remind humans of their limitations.