Occasional artist series, No. 2: Joseph Beuys

Infiltration-homogen für Cello (Homogenous Infiltration for Cello)

Joseph Beuys

National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa

Beuys made several of these for musician and performance artist Charlotte Moorman.

This piece developed out of a work in which Beuys wrapped a grand piano in felt. “In a normal sense a piano is an instrument used to produce sounds,” he said. “When not in use it is silent, but still has sound potential. Here, no sound is possible and the piano is condemned to silence.”