This is an action-object - a replica of a violin played by the Fluxus artist Henning Christiansen during a concert called ‘…Or should we change it’. The concert was staged by Beuys and Christiansen at the Städtisches Museum, Mönchengladbach on 27 March 1969. Many of Beuys’ early ‘actions’ were of a concert nature, and he participated with Fluxus events during the 1960s. These events were originally organised by people interested in experimenting with sound, such as the avant-garde composer John Cage. Beuys explores sound and silence throughout his work. This is seen in objects like ‘Noiseless Blackboard Eraser’ (1974), in his use of recorded sound and also of pianos, which are frequently muffled by his trademark rolls of felt.