During an Artform interview with Willoughby Sharp in 1969, legendary visual artist Joseph Beuys added to his famous statement – “teaching is my greatest work of art” – that “the rest is the waste product, a demonstration.”
Bueys continued:
“If you want to express yourself you must present something tangible. But after a while, this has only the function of a historic document. Objects aren’t very important anymore. I want to get to the origin of matter, to the thought behind it.”
Beuys saw his role of an artist as a teacher or shaman who could guide society in a new direction (Via source: Sotheby’s catalog, 1992).
Tisdale Studio 