In the holdings of the National Gallery of Australia is an installation by German artist Joseph Beuys that showcases his identity as a modern-day shaman: an artist who can provide healing guidance to a sick society. It is an identity that many artists hold. They see themselves as leaders of cultural change; people who help others see the world in a new way. For some artists, this identity is valid. They combine being well-read and skilled with the confidence to break the mould, and they are able to see things before others. Unfortunately, mixed in with these artists are those…