A publication in form of an analogue interactive object, acknowledging 100 years since birth of German artist, politician and activist Joseph Beuys.
The publication titled “Vprašajte vsestranskega umetnika Josepha Beuysa” (Ask the versatile artist Joseph Beuys) is designed as an analog interactive object - a black box. The box requires participation from the observer, as did often Beuys during his performances. While the text of the publication is written in long lines aall round the box, the instructions for interacting with the object itself are located on the top;
The observer asks Beuys a question, inserts a coin, looks into the box (through one of four peepholes) and listens to the answer. The image seen through each peephole is a life-size face of Joseph Beuys, and whatever the question, his answer is always the same: “Ja, Ja, Ja, Ne, Ne, Ne” (Yes Yes Yes, No No No) - an excerpt from the performance of the same name from 1968.
following the instructions
frontal, orthogonal, and bottom view of the box
the box “in action”
inner workings of the box
The very title of the object is a pun that draws inspiration from Beuys’s interest in linguistics: The face of the versatile artist can be seen from all sides of the box. (In Slovenian versatile is vsestranski, which also means “from all sides”) The multiple faces are also reminiscent of the creatures in Celtic and Germanic mythologies (also an interest of Beuys).
The object combines image, sound, text and touch, relating to the multidisciplinary of Beuys’ artistic work. The box seeks to form an intimate interaction with the observer, demanding closeness, attention and curiosity; One has to insert a coin into the slot despite not knowing what to expect, and regardless the question, Beuys’ answer is indeterminate, dual, and open to interpretation, just like his works.
Did he answer the question? Was it worth the coin? How does the box work? Contemplation of these emerging questions is left to the observer.