Social sphere: Shaping society like an sculpture

Abstract

The notion of social sculpture (Harlan, Rappmann, and Schata, 1984:56-61) was a theory created by Joseph Beuys in the 1970s, based on participatory community projects that would produce a change in society through creative processes. The German artist indicated that everything is art, that every person can be an artist (Berka, 2011:173) and the entirety of the aspects that conform life can be treated creatively (Sacks, Zumdick, 2013). In social sculpture an artistic piece is created that takes place in a social environment, it requires social engagement and the participation of the public for the conclusion of the piece in the creative process. Beuys considered that social sculpture could generate a positive impact of social transformation in its structures and enrich the citizen. (Thistlewood, 1995: 185) During his artistic career, Beuys created theories with a social approach and utopian vision. His idea of “plastic theory” (Harlan, Rappmann, and Schata, 1984:102-103) was based on broadening the concept of art and on an artistic process that his development was argued to be social sculpture. The idea of the way in which man can transform himself into a sculptor and model a social system is the basis of his work. There are numerous ways to approach the broad and enriching legacy based on Beuys’ theories and concepts (Sacks, 2011:90). Beuys’ legacy lives on today and there are artistic notions that link to the ideas expanded art concept (Finney, 2006) that stem from social sculpture such as socially engaged art (Persinger, and Rejaie, 2021. Thompson, 2017), community art (Crehan, 2013), social art practice (Atkinson, Dash, and Dash, 2005), and participatory art practice (Miller, Little, High, 2017. Conrad and Sinner, 2015). A historical overview of social sculpture will be taken and how it has developed into current notions such as socially engaged art, social art practice, and community. By displaying artworks of authors working in these areas, it will be possible to establish a procedure to elaborate an artistic practice with a focus on art education. Finally, it will be presented pieces that can be elaborated in the area of Art Education, as well as the connections that are presented between the idea of social sculpture and its relation with education and the field of pedagog