Beuys and the Beast: Symbolic Conflict in Human-Animal Performance

Abstract

The relationship between humans and animals, as depicted in works of art, presents a compelling avenue for exploration, particularly in the context of today's increasingly critical ecological crisis. Art can serve as a potent medium for encouraging reflection on the spiritual significance of animals and for fostering a more harmonious relationship between humans and non-human creatures. In this regard, specific animals, within particular cultural contexts, can symbolize not only their species but also embody the unique values, identities, and civilizations that emerge from human interactions with them. When an artist selects a particular animal as the focal point of their creative endeavor, this choice is rarely arbitrary; it is often imbued with layers of profound symbolic meaning, reflecting complex cultural, historical, and ecological narratives. A notable example of this is found in the works of Joseph Beuys, whose performance art frequently incorporated animals as key elements. Beuys’s use of animals transcends mere symbolism; it delves into the realm of contrasting and often conflicting symbolic elements, wherein the animal subjects evoke both ancient traditions—such as folk customs, mythologies, and witchcraft—and confrontations with dark historical realities and absurdities of modern existence. Through his art, Beuys explores the tension between the idealized, spiritualized representations of animals and the brutal, often unsettling realities that humans impose upon them. This duality reflects the broader symbolic conflict between nature and civilization, innocence and violence, tradition and modernity, thereby offering a poignant commentary on the fractured relationship between humans and the natural world. In doing so, Beuys’s work challenges the viewer to reconsider the ethical and spiritual dimensions of humanity's interaction with animals, while also highlighting the urgent need for ecological and cultural reconciliation.