"Kunst = KAPITAL", 1979

Italian 10000 Lire bank note, black felt pen

6,9 x 13,3 cm (2 3/4 x 5 1/4 in.)

signed and titled

€ 12.000,00

About the work

"Kunst = Kapital" (Art = Capital) was the formula Joseph Beuys wrote on the slates in the central room of the internationalen pavilion of the 1980 Biennale of Venice. If we read that today, knowing the art market of today, we might interpret it as a criticism of so many people buying art solely as an asset. However, Beuys‘ intention was completely different. He wanted to replace money and the accumulation of alleged values with the capital of creative potential. Beuys also wanted to change the role of people in society. The capital he was speaking of was the creativity of all people. With his extended art term and his „Social Sculpture he was inviting everyone to discover their creativity, make it available for society and become a social entity.