sholette, trouble maker here:
i am struck by the idea that one imagines anyone, artist or not, can
have a NON problematic relationship to politics.
take beuys since he has come up recently.
several days ago hans haacke gave a powerful public presentation on
his fellow german artist at the dia foundation in nyc. haacke had
done his usual careful research and presented a picture of beuys in
the form of a dossier in which the late artist was unequivocally
either an actual fascist or at least unconsciously identified with
nazism, wagnerian myths, christlike self images and so forth. one
especially riveting example was a photograph haacke projected that
was taken of beuys holding a small crucifix in one hand, the other
hand raised in a heil hitler salute. it was shot during a performance
where beuys appears to have been using a piano filled with assorted
junk to mock the anniversary of the german army plot to assassinate
hitler. or not, since ambiguity and charisma abound in this work, no
doubt making it especially appealing to the less critical individual.
whatever beuys actual intent was however, a fist fight broke out in
which the artist was bashed in the head. thus his chilling heil
hitler pose, and i must say this picture appeared more like a film
still from The Producers, also sported a bloody head, giving the
stern faced artist the appearance of a martyr.
haacke presented a great deal more that very greatly problematized
beuys all taken from archival materials and authoritative sources. it
was a pretty devastating portrait, one that no one at dia, despite
their obvious investment in beuys, nor in the packed room, was
willing to challenge.(not likely haacke will be asked back anytime
soon either)
however, haacke acknowledged that beuys had made important
contributions to the founding of the german green party and he
recognized that beuys students have in many cases gone on to do
impressive work, activist work included.
so, i guess my question is still: what sort of existence is there
today, in the past or ever that is not politically problematic?
assuming you agree that not appearing to be political is really just
a way of permitting the status quo to do as it chooses....ggs