Klavier Oxygen

Joseph Beuys is considered to be one of the most influential European artists of the post-war era. As the pioneer of happening and performance art and a leading figure among Fluxus artists, his works include sculptures, installations, and graphics, as well as those based on art theory and education. Developing a strong interest in shamanism, healing traditions, spiritual science, religion, humanist thought and politics, Beuys explored the social and political impact of art, to reveal the possible roles it can assume.

"Klavier Oxygen" was commissioned for the piano concert “Simultankonzert an drei Klavieren” [Simultaneous Concert with Three Pianos] that featured Joseph Beuys, Henning Christiansen and Nam June Paik on 29 November 1985 at the foyer of the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Hamburg as part of “Biennale des Friedens” [Biennale of Peace] curated by René Block. Unable to travel due to health problems, Beuys suggested giving his instructions over the phone during the concert. The telephone on the piano was connected to a speaker. Beuys’ work consists of a piano without any pedals, a telephone, an oxygen cylinder tied to a bicycle wheel’s inner tube, and a green-coloured blackboard on which is written the statement dictated by Beuys during the concert, which reads: “Bei einem wesensgemäßen Beschreiben des Geschehens zur Befreiung der von der Fähigkeit getragenen Arbeit ist es doch logisch, daß das Tragende zuerst befreit werden muß” [In order properly to describe an artistic event which seeks freedom from the results of mere competence, it is only logical that the vehicle itself should first be free — trans. by WTF].