Joseph Beuys: trauma and catharsis.

Joseph Beuys, a major 20th-century artist, experienced a life-changing trauma in March 1943 when his dive bomber crashed in Crimea. This event, known as the 'Tartar Legend' or 'Tartar Myth', profoundly shaped his artistic career. Beuys perceived his rescue as a "rebirth" and developed a new consciousness that ignored boundaries, creating visions for the healing of all mankind. The abstract contends that Beuys did not bring society to a visible turning point toward "the healing of the world," but his work remains important as a record of strength arising from trauma and a passionate commitment to life.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Joseph Beuys was one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. He was a gunner and radio operator in the German Air Force during World War II, and was severely injured several times. In March 1943 he had a life-changing experience after the dive bomber he was assigned to crashed in the Crimean peninsula. This trauma influenced Beuys' entire artistic career, and is known in art history as the 'Tartar Legend' or 'Tartar Myth'. Profoundly affected by the crash, the severe trauma, the near-death experience and his rescue, which he perceived as a "rebirth", Beuys no longer saw himself, other people or society as a whole in the same way as previously. With his new consciousness, he ignored boundaries and created visions whereby all mankind could experience the healing he had undergone. Beuys did not bring society far enough for the turning point towards "the healing of the world" to be visible, yet today it is important to keep his work alive as a record of his extraordinary strength, which arose from trauma and severe injury, and was carried by a passionate commitment to mankind and to life itself.