The artwork “Capri Battery” by Joseph Beuys, created in 1985, belongs to the Conceptual Art movement and is an installation piece consisting of an objet trouvé that includes a lemon, a light bulb, and a plug socket. The artwork measures 8 x 11 cm and is currently housed in the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, UK.
The artwork features a minimal yet evocative composition. A vibrant yellow lemon is placed adjacent to a yellow-tinted light bulb, both integrated within a black plug socket. The simple, almost mundane subject matter is transformed into a thought-provoking installation, emblematic of Conceptual Art’s emphasis on ideas over aesthetic value. The juxtaposition of natural and manufactured elements, as well as the implied functionality of the lemon as a source of power, challenges conventional notions of energy, utility, and the boundaries between art and everyday objects. The compact dimensions of this work further accentuate its conceptual rigor and invite viewers to ponder the layers of meaning embedded in its seemingly straightforward assembly.
