The suit was made to the measurements of one of Beuys's own suits, except that the sleeves and the legs were lengthened. Felt is one of the materials the artist frequently used. The original suit was worn by Beuys for the 'Action of the Dead / Isolation Unit' on 24 November 1970 in Düsseldorf. Beuys stated that the suit represented a way of protecting an individual from the world. It also acts as a symbol of the isolation of human beings. There are connotations of the suits worn by prisoners, in particular those in Nazi concentration camps.
Joseph Beuys (German, 1921 - 1986)
German artist Beuys believed that art was integral to everyday life. His own art was shaped by an experience early in his life. As a Luftwaffe pilot during the war, Beuys was shot down over the Crimea and was saved by nomadic Tartars. Barely alive, he was wrapped in felt and fat which preserved his body heat, and taken to safety on sledges pulled by dogs. This incident, and these particular elements, informed much of his art, which has a redemptive, mystical and ritualistic character. Central to his work were his 'Actions', which involved teaching, audience discussion and performance. The recurrent themes were social and political. Associated with the ecological movement - he was a founder member of the Green Party - he also had a strong influence on German politics.
