Part 5 of 5 Art History Lectures Celebrating the Centenary of Beuys’ birth
Presented by Victoria Martino
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
6:30 PM
Individual tickets: $14 / $19
Perhaps the greatest contribution of Joseph Beuys was his democratic notion that every person in society is a creative artist, and, as such, bears the responsibility for social, political, and economic well-being. Beuys believed with all his heart, that art, and art alone, could transform both society and culture. Much of what has come to be referred to in our time as “relational aesthetics,” owes its origins to the rich repository of ideas developed and promoted by Beuys. There is almost no realm of modern thought which is untouched by the radical reforms proposed by this visionary artist.
Join art historian Victoria Martino in a fascinating five-week art history lecture series, celebrating the centenary of Beuys’ birth (May 12, 1921).
Joseph Beuys (1921–1986)—sculptor, painter, draughtsman, conceptual artist, teacher, theorist, philosopher, and political activist—ranks among the most radical and revolutionary artists of the 20th century. A charismatic, compelling, and controversial creator of objects and ideas, his imagination inspired and influenced the trajectory of thought and theory up to our time.
From his provocative “Actions” of the ’60s and ’70s, to his massive environmental project, 7000 Oaks, Beuys dedicated his life and work to the causes of ecological, economic, and political reform. His anti-authoritarian approach galvanized all strata of society.
Drawing upon the factual and imaginal realms of alchemy, anthroposophy, botany, mythology, and sociobiology, Beuys proved conclusively that the purpose and power of art extend into all areas of life. His environmental and social concerns are as relevant today as they were in his own lifetime.
Martino, an internationally recognized curator, critic, and scholar of 20th century art, who lived and worked in Vienna during the 1990s, was personally drawn into the controversy that raged through the European art world in the years following the death of Beuys.
The lecture will be livestreamed via Zoom webinar. Ticket holders will receive a link before the lecture. Following the lecture, ticket holders will have 48-hour access to a recording.