Wild Man as an Androgynous and Psychedelic Image in Contemporary Performative Art

The Wild Man is an archetypal figure that emerges from the deep connection between art, society, and belief systems, appearing across cultures in festivals and art with evolving costumes and imagery. Its costumes, made from organic materials, express a transitional relationship with nature and the supernatural, giving the figure a psychedelic, androgynous character. This research examines the costume and performance works of avant-garde and contemporary artists—including Joseph Beuys, Fern Shaffer, Ana Mendieta, Cassils, Asher Woodworth, Nick Cave, Saya Woolfalk, and various collectives—that evoke the Wild Man, focusing on their psychedelic, ambiguous, and synesthetic qualities. The Wild Man, with its contradictory and psychic aspect, continues to inspire contemporary artists by revitalizing cultural and artistic ties.

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Abstract

Wild Man is a kind of archetype and a wild symbolic figure arising from the unbreakable bond of art with society and belief systems, and continues to appear both in cultural festivals and in the field of art with changing images and costumes in various societies and different cultures from past to present. Assuming the role of shaman or pagan, Wild Man’s costumes and symbolic language are shaped by the natural structure of organic materials, expressing the figure’s transitive relationship with nature and the supernatural. This expression is reflected in Wild Man’s image and performative identity, giving it a psychedelic, androgynous characteristic. The present research examines the costume and performance works of avant-garde and contemporary artists such as Joseph Beuys, Fern Shaffer, Ana Mendieta, Cassils, Asher Woodworth, Nick Cave, Saya Woolfalk, and various artist collectives, which take on the image of Wild Man or evoke it, within the scope of their psychedelic qualities that become ambiguous, androgynous and provide transitions between the senses. Revitalizing cultural and artistic ties, Wild Man with its contradictory and psychic aspect, continues to inspire contemporary artists.