Burning Hat, 1986/1987

Nam June Paik created this silkscreen edition as part of the group portfolio For Joseph Beuys, paying tribute to the influential German artist and fellow Fluxus member. Rendered in vivid reds and oranges, the print shows a fedora-style hat – Beuys’ iconic trademark – engulfed in flames. The image oscillates between homage and transformation, symbolizing Beuys’ radical legacy and his mythologized persona. With characteristic wit and symbolism, Paik turns the burning hat into a visual metaphor: for transmission, sacrifice, memory, and creative energy. The work reflects the close bond between the two artists, both of whom embraced performance, pedagogy, and the merging of art with life. Burning Hat becomes a poetic, visual eulogy – at once personal and universal.