Artist Joseph Beuys was a fascinating man. An intensely metaphorical artist, his works have been somewhat polarizing—extremely well regarded and identified with by many while also completely dismissed by scores of others.
Take one of Joesph Beuys’ more famous sculptures, Homogeneous Infiltration for Piano. Homogeneous Infiltration is a piano covered entirely in felt, with a red cross placed on the side.
At first sight, Homogeneous Infiltration for Piano is so random and strange that it’s almost funny. It’s ridiculous. A piano covered in felt. What a waste of material! That’s not art! Beuys must be one of those attention seekers who’s just trying to stand out.
That’s what the critics say.And what I’ve learned about conceptual art is that it isn’t for everybody.
You either think it’s genius or it isn’t. You either come away saying you loved it and completely understood or that it’s completely stupid.
But if you have any interest in really appreciating conceptual art, you need to start by suspending disbelief—just like you do when you watch a good movie, just as millions have done as they put aside the unbelievability of a miserable boy who finds out that he can go to a school for wizards where they wave sticks of wood around and say things in Latin to make them come true.
People don’t complain that movies are too far out there to be plausible. Even the most seemingly stupid movie ideas. People let their imagination take over and fill in the gaps.
That’s what has to happen when you appreciate conceptual art. You forget that you’re looking at a piano covered in felt with a red cross on it and think beyond what meets the eye.
You need to allow your mind to explore the possibilities, to think about the possible significance. And you have a revelation—
“But then, the dull grey of the felt slowly induces a sombre tone. And then it seems rather sad – this beautiful instrument that has the capacity to lift the soul with sound has been muted forever. Or maybe Beuys was protecting it from the ravages of time, adding the cross to suggest it’s an object that needs looking after.” (The Guardian, March 5th, 2009)
And it makes sense. You understand. You and the piece of art are united. And if you just aren’t connecting with the piece, well, then perhaps it just isn’t for you.
“The people ask me, “Well, what does it mean?”
Then I can only say, “It means nothing—or it means nothing in your understanding of meaning. Because art is not there to be understood. Art is something to identify with because it contains the creativity which also exists in you.” (Joseph Beuys)
