In 1966, Beuys and his friend Per Kirkeby made an 'imaginary' journey
with their wives to the village of Manresa in the Pyrenees. Kirkeby
subsequently wrote about the journey and Beuys performed the 'action' 'Manresa'
later that year. The village is significant for its connection with Ignatius
Loyola who spent several months there in meditation, prior to writing his
volume of prayers 'Spiritual Exercises'. The book is based around the idea that
'Intuition is a higher form of reason' – a belief the artist shared. The
village is a place of pilgrimage for Catholics and is generally associated with
spiritual enlightenment. Beuys used this circular object in his 'Manresa'
'action'. To prepare for the campaign, Beuys himself traveled to the Spanish
city of Manresa and visited the cave where Ignatius lived in a retreat. The
insight that it is up to every concrete individual to get up from the grave
with injuries, suffering and traumas, to
discover and developpe the capacity for creative power.
Performance by Beuys under title ‘Manresa’ in Galerie Schmela in
Düsseldorf, 15 december 1966
