The Groove 188 - Why You Should Embrace Your Multitudes
WHY YOU SHOULD EMBRACE MULTITUDES
Walt Whitman immortalized the profound truth: “I contain multitudes.” This declaration extends far beyond the poetic realm, resonating deeply within each of us. But we tend to contend with our multitudes by shining a light on some and hiding others so that we fit inside boxes designed by society, passed down through generations with the intention of keeping us in our lane. The truth is all our parts are interconnected and when we dim the light on one, the rest suffers too.
Humans are kaleidoscopes of intricacies, each containing a boundless array of emotions, identities, experiences, and potentials. It’s our responsibility to use the entirety of our complexities to propel us forward in our businesses and careers. Some of these traits we are born with and some are cultural constructions that we adopt throughout our lives. It’s perfectly fine to let them all work for us.
Born in 1921 in Krefeld, Germany, Joseph Beuys had been a member of various combat bomber units during WWII and was a student of science and medicine post-war, when a fateful meeting with a local sculptor in the city of Kleve made Beuys change his mind and pushed him to study art. In 1946, he enrolled in the prestigious Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1953 at the age of 32. Beuys's extensive body of work comprised painting, drawing, sculpture, installations, and performances, but his ideas, which permeated everything he did, are his most potent legacy. Undoubtedly, Beuys embraced vastly different aspects of himself and interwove them to create a new persona and disseminate his theories to all who would listen. Beuys the artist was born out of the elaborate concoction of three main identities, each of which were a part of him:
The Visionary
Joseph Beuys photographed by Maria Mulas with one of the silkscreen portraits that Andy Warhol made of him in 1980.
Visionaries often come up with groundbreaking ideas and solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible. Their ability to envision a better society inspires movements that drive social justice, equality, and environmental sustainability.
Beuys viewed art as a remedy for society's problems; a positive, healing force capable of awakening individual creativity, fostering political awareness, and driving social change.
Sculpture for Beuys was an all-encompassing concept, where society itself was envisioned as a grand, collective artwork. He captivated his audience through groundbreaking and provocative means, advocating for art as a truly human medium capable of instigating revolutionary change, a concept he termed "social sculpture." In this vast social sculpture, every individual had the potential to contribute creatively.
In the early 1960s, when Beuys introduced the statement “everyone is an artist”, it sent shockwaves through the insular art world. Despite his established reputation within the burgeoning art market, the statement's provocative nature unsettled artist colleagues, dealers, and buyers. In a new art market increasingly driven by financial motives, the notion that everyone could create art and define its essence challenged the established hierarchy of exclusivity.
“Art alone makes life possible-this is how radically I should like to formulate it. I would say that without art man is inconceivable in physiological terms… Man is only truly alive when he realizes he is a creative, artistic being. I demand an artistic involvement in all realms of life.”
You can become a visionary by consciously nurturing your creativity and curiosity and by questioning what’s been given to you by “the establishment”. By embracing lifelong learning, seeking diverse experiences, and remaining open to new ideas, you can unlock your potential to see beyond the present and imagine a better future. Standing behind your own ideas with dedication, reflection, and effective communication, you can inspire others and drive meaningful change. Ultimately, the visionary within each of us is not a rare gift but a cultivated skill, ready to be realized through commitment and passion.
The Teacher
Joseph Beuys with students, Kunstakademie Dusseldorf, 1968. Photo: Ute Klophaus.
Sharing knowledge is both a vital responsibility and a powerful tool for collective growth and progress. When we share what we know and infuse that with our own insights, we foster a culture of learning, collaboration, and innovation, enabling others to benefit from our experiences. This exchange of knowledge not only empowers others but also strengthens communities, driving societal advancement and problem-solving.
At the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, where Beuys taught from 1961 to 1972, he rejected traditional hierarchies and formalities in education. His classroom was a space for open dialogue, experimentation, and collaboration. Beuys encouraged his students to explore their inner creativity and think critically about the role of art in society. Sigmar Polke, Anselm Kiefer, Blinky Palermo and Imi Knoebel were among his star students.
Beuys added to his well-known assertion, “teaching is my greatest work of art,” by stating, “the rest is the waste product, a demonstration. 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.”
He believed that humanity's focus on rationality was leading to the suppression of emotions, diminishing a crucial source of energy and creativity. As a teacher, he emphasized the importance of the creative process over the final artistic product. This focus on process allowed students to experiment and take risks without the pressure of producing a polished end result, thereby nurturing innovation and originality.
Beuys's performance, How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare, holds particular significance for the field of pedagogy as it tackles “the difficulty of explaining things.” During this three-hour piece, Beuys explained his art to a dead hare while the artist’s head was coated with honey and gold leaf. The honey-covered head and the hare symbolize models of thinking, with the artist embodying his ideas in physical forms. He taught us that modern movements like performance art can be seen as laboratories for new educational approaches.
The Shaman
Joseph Beuys in 1965 during his seminal performance How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare.
Shamans are traditionally seen as healers who possess the ability to mediate between the physical and spiritual worlds to bring about healing and transformation. They have been in vogue lately: I’m not sure if it’s because of people’s lack of trust in God and true spirituality, to fill an immense void, or because it’s just fashionable to have your own.
Beuys was ahead of the curve 50 years ago and viewed art as a means of spiritual and social healing. "It was thus a strategic stage to use the shaman's character but, subsequently, I gave scientific lectures. Also, at times, on one hand, I was a kind of modern scientific analyst; on the other hand, in the actions, I had a synthetic existence as shaman. This strategy aimed at creating in people an agitation for instigating questions rather than for conveying a complete and perfect structure. It was a kind of psychoanalysis with all the problems of energy and culture.”
While he did not practice shamanism in a traditional sense, Beuys' embrace of shamanic principles, spirituality and mysticism enriched his art and resonated deeply with audiences seeking meaning and transcendence. Understanding Beuys as a shamanic figure illuminates the deeper spiritual and symbolic dimensions of his art and offers insights into his enduring impact.
“I am aware that my art cannot be understood primarily by thinking. My art touches people who are in tune with my mode of thinking. But it is clear that people cannot understand my art by intellectual processes alone, because no art can be experienced in this way. I say to experience, because this is not equivalent to thinking: it's a great deal more complex; it involves being moved subconsciously.”
We can become our own shamans by embracing the power of self-discovery and transformation. This involves integrating and embracing our inner multitudes. Taking responsibility for our personal growth and actively pursuing knowledge and self-improvement allows us to guide ourselves and others toward positive change. In doing so, we channel our inherent ability to heal, inspire, and lead, embodying the shamanic role in our modern context.
Embracing our multitudes is not just about accepting the complexity of our own being; it's about harnessing the full spectrum of our identities, talents, experiences, and perspectives to excel in our careers and lives. By acknowledging and integrating all aspects of ourselves, we unlock a wealth of creativity, resilience, and adaptability that can take us to new heights of success and fulfillment.