Remembering Joseph Beuys

Beuys, who was born in Krefeld in May 1921, is considered one of the most important and influential German artists of the post-war period.

He mystified the materials he favored – felt and grease – as well as the permanent wearing of a hat, with a legend claiming that after an actual plane crash in the Crimea with allegedly serious head injuries, he was anointed with felt and warmed with grease by Tatars.

Beuys revolutionized the common idea of art, not only by interweaving his work with socio-political actions, the founding of political organizations, his university teaching and the concept of "social sculpture" but also with his understanding that every human activity should be regarded as art.