JOSEPH BEUYS

In 1977, Beuys created a monumental installation for documenta 6, the international exhibition of contemporary art held every five years in Kassel, Germany. Entitled Honeypump in the Workplace, it pumped two tons of honey through plastic tubing, using motors lubricated with over 200 pounds of margarine. It was in action throughout the 100 days of the exhibition and Beuys intended it to be seen as a metaphorical circulation system, absorbing and distributing the energy generated by the lectures, discussions, and seminars that were happening during the exhibition. Honeypump was the embodiment of his idea that energy (in this case, honey) and heat (generated by the machine's motion) are symbolically connected to the notion of social sculpture.