- documenta archiv
On May 12, 2021 Joseph Beuys would have turned one hundred. He is still considered one of the most influential artists of the present day, not least because of his broad-based and cross-discipline understanding of art. In particular, his ecological visions, discourses on political participation and the relevance of culture for society and its transformation processes are as topical today as ever.
The City of Kassel and the artist Beuys, seven-time documenta exhibitor, are tied by close links. Joseph Beuys’ first participation was at documenta 3 in 1964 that featured the young artist’s drawings. Until the end of his life Joseph Beuys then took part in every subsequent documenta. His works were also posthumously exhibited in 1987 (d8) and 1992 (d9). The Free International University (d6) and the artwork 7000 Eichen – Stadtverwaldung statt Stadtverwaltung (d7) still have an impact on the city of Kassel and live on in numerous institutions as well as in the cityscape.
Joseph Beuys’ 100th birthday will be marked in Kassel by the anniversary program BEUYSLABORKASSEL2021. It will highlight the special relationship between the city of Kassel and the artist Joseph Beuys as well as his impact on current artistic and social issues with a specially designed series of exhibitions, events, conferences, publications, performances and activities.
Representatives from numerous Kassel institutions and key Beuys figures spent a year preparing the BEUYSLABORKASSEL2021 program in a process of mutual exchange. The following project partners were involved in this joint development process: the documenta archiv, documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH, Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, the Department of Culture / Cultural Office of the City of Kassel, the foundation 7000 Eichen, the foundation cdw-Stiftung, the documenta forum Kassel e.V., galeria kollektiva, KolorCubes e.V., Staatstheater Kassel, Studio Lev Kassel e.V., the City of Kassel’s Environment and Gardens Office, Werkstatt Kassel e.V., the Social Sculpture Lab under the direction of long-standing Oxford lecturer and Beuys pupil Shelley Sacks as well as art historian and archaeologist Dr. Rhea Thönges-Stringaris.
For the documenta archiv, Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel/Neue Galerie and the City of Kassel artist Shelley Sacks developed the Kassel-21 / Social Sculpture Lab. Following this exhibition, the documenta archiv and the Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel will provide further perspective on Joseph Beuys and his work through another contemporary witness at the Neue Galerie: Kassel-based photographer Dieter Schwerdtle specialized in comprehensively documenting the Kassel art scene and the documenta as well as its surroundings. He photographed documenta exhibitions 5 to 11 and also met Joseph Beuys on several occasions during his exhibitions and activities in Kassel. As part of BEUYSLABORKASSEL2021, the Neue Galerie will be showcasing selected works from the Dieter Schwerdtle estate.
Due to the ongoing pandemic-related restrictions, planned formats and dates will be continuously adapted to this situation. All current information can be found at: www.beuyslaborkassel2021.de