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Still Joseph Beuys Soziale Plastik© Lutz Mommartz

Anniversary Program
 100 Years of Joseph Beuys

Few German cultural figures of the 20th century were as controversial as the action artist, sculptor, draftsman, art theorist, and professor Joseph Beuys (1921–1986). His work dealt with a new, expanded concept of art that included the political co-creation of society.

We’ve gathered events on Joseph Beuys from our colleagues and partners in the region — and included some 2021 perspectives on the artist’s work.
 

Beuys2021© Beuys2021

the earth is speaking

“the earth is speaking” brings together personal stories, experimental audio performances, and original sounds from around the world, all exploring the artist Joseph Beuys. Tune in!

Joseph Beuys would have turned 100 in May 2021. In a video series, we focus on the history of the impact of his ideas and art. Artists from all over the world talk about the reception and reverberation of Beuys in their own thinking and work. We want to avoid heroic narratives and look less at Beuys' legacy than at the diverse appropriations, confrontations, critiques and questions about this legacy.
Reflections on Beuys © Goethe-Institut

#aboutbeuysDC
Reflections on Beuys

On the occasion of Joseph Beuys’ 100th birthday, the Goethe-Institut Washington and the Hirshhorn Museum paired up and challenged nine contemporary artists to reflect on Beuys. In short videos, each artist conveys their relationship to Beuys, his work, and his legacy.​

More about Joseph Beuys

Video series
 #aboutbeuys

In a video series, we focus on the history of the impact of his ideas and art. Artists from all over the world talk about the reception and reverberation of Beuys in their own thinking and work. We want to avoid heroic narratives and look less at Beuys' legacy than at the diverse appropriations, confrontations, critiques and questions about this legacy.
 

The exhibition “Beuys verstehen” (“Understanding Beuys”) will be presented by the Goethe-Institutes of Warsaw and Prague. Illustration (detail): © ZAUBAR/Imago

Poland & Czech Republic
 Understanding Beuys

The expanded concept of art developed by Joseph Beuys is a benchmark of international cultural work for the work of the Goethe-Instituts worldwide and an inspiration to contribute to the understanding of the artist's political, social and ecological content and issues in the anniversary year via the aesthetic framework of a virtual exhibition.

Slowakia
 Beuys will be Beuys

Joseph Beuys is one of the most influential and controversial artists of the 20th century. In 2021, we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth. Who was Beuys, and who is he today?

7000 Oaks – City Forestation Instead of City Administration: Dennhäuser Strasse, a social sculpture by Joseph Beuys, presented in 1982 at the documenta 7 in Kassel Photo (detail): Baummapper (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Joseph Beuys and the Will to Act
 What if chopping down a tree were tantamount to murder?

Joseph Beuys was a multi-faceted artist whose ideas still have an impact today. We talked to a Beuys expert, Eugen Blume, about the artist’s interventions to promote the environmental movement and show us humans that every one of us can take action. 

Tokyo
 100 Years Joseph Beuys

On the occasion of the 100th birthday and 35th anniversary of the death of Joseph Beuys, the Goethe-Institut Tokyo is devoting its programming to the artist. What is the significance of Beuys’ work and agenda today?

Beuys 2021 © Beuys 2021

Germany
 Beuys 2021

The anniversary program beuys2021 is a project of the Ministry of Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in collaboration with the Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf.

Never without a hat: Joseph Beuys at the documenta 7 in Kassel, 1982. Photo (detail): © picture-alliance / akg-images / Niklaus Stauss

Joseph Beuys
Fat, felt and legends

In May 2021, Germany is celebrating a special art centenary on what would have been legendary artist Joseph Beuys’ 100th birthday. We look at what made the provocative lateral thinker tick.

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