Introduction: BeuysDIY - Capri-Batterie, Art Piece

By BeuysDIY
About: Ich kenne kein Weekend

In this instructable I am going to show you how to make the "Capri Batterie" from Joesph Beuys.

  • Year of publication: 1985
  • Editions: 200 pcs
  • Price today: ca. 15 000 €
  • DIY costs: ca. 18 €

The art piece consits of an bulb lamp with a yellow, opaque glass body and a plug socket made of black plastic, which is attached with a plug to a lemon. It is the same principle as you would connect a light source to an energy store. The lemon preserves the lamp from tipping over and is held by this.

Beuys made multiples because he was interested in spreading his ideas. The multiple as a carrier of ideas. Today spreading ideas would maybe look like this: Make an instructable. This project has also a small website: beuysdiy.de

Instead of "Kunst für alle!" I say: "Beuys für alle!".

Material you need for this art piece:

Optional: You can also print the plug socket with a 3D printer. You can download the 3D-file (.stl) here .

Step 1: Step 1: Adapt Your Lamp Socket

For this step, we also need a wooden bar or something similar to attach the lamp holder to it and very fine abrasive paper, in order to roughen the lamp holder slightly (then the paint adheres better). Once sanded and mounted on the board, it can be sprayed. Spray about 25 cm from the object. Then let the paint dry as described on the spray can.

Optional: You could also use a 3D printer to print your lamp socket. I have made an .stl-File. You can download it here or on the BeuysDIY-Website . If you do so, this step is of course redundant.

Step 2: Step 2: Prepare Your Lemon

For this step, we need a thin screwdriver, hex wrench or similar.

According to Beuys, the lemon must be replaced every 10000 hours.

Even in the store should be taken care to select a beautiful, yellow lemon. Lemons with an unpleasant spot are also o.k., the unattractive spot can then be turned downwards and is thus not visible.

We now take a "Schuko"-plug, put it on the lemon and mark the points, in which later our lamp socket is to attack.

Now we use the Allen key (or the screwdriver) and carefully drill holes at the marked points. We start with the thinnest and work slowly towards the thicker.

Step 3: Step 3: All Together Now!

Now we add all the parts together. The order of doing this is irrelevant. Insert the socket into the pre-drilled holes in the lemon, insert the light bulb and present it in a suitable place.

On the first picture, you see a version with of the Capri Batterie with a regular bulb socket, on the second picture the bulb socket is 3D printed.

The result. A DIY-Beuys in your own living room.