The Artist's Body As the Artwork

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Artist: adampadam
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In the article, "ritual space / sculptural time" by Nat Trotman he notes that Matthew Barney and Joseph Beuys are similar in their presentational qualities. They both like to use their bodies not only in their art, but as the artwork itself. For example, Beuys took fat and applied it to himself to create art that resembled an "initiation ceremony." He also created an instrument using the fat and an antenna. Barney used mythical experiences to create a narrative that he would implement himself in. He was more interested in the process of storytelling and wanted to develop symbolism. I like how the article "in potentia: Matthew Barney and Joseph Beuys" says that Beuys wanted to think about the portrayal of his art, "from the idea of a personal rebirth to that of worldwide political and social awakening." The body and how it functions when restricted of certain movements interested Barney. He set up an artwork that involved him being restrained by elastic cords where he would have to try and draw on his studio walls while trying to fight this restraining system. Beuys and Barney were both chronic storytellers and therefore shared in the same interests. Both of these men offered unique perspectives in the way that they made art, however after examining their practices more closely, we realize that they were not that different from each other after all.