Biographie
Beuys, Joseph Heinrich, born May 12, 1921 in Krefeld and died January 23, 1986 in Düsseldorf, is a major German artist. Painter, sculptor, performer and theorist, he is famous for his political commitment and the creation of a personal mythology incorporating symbolic materials such as felt and grease.
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From childhood, Beuys showed an interest in music and nature. In 1936, he joined the Hitler Youth and later enlisted in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He describes surviving a plane crash in Crimea thanks to the care of Tatar nomads, an experience he incorporates into his work through materials such as grease and felt.
After the war, Beuys enrolled at the Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts, became a student of Ewald Mataré, and was inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner. He distinguished himself with his creations of funerary monuments and his drawing practice. In the 1960s, he joined the Fluxus movement and became known for iconic performances, such asHow to explain paintings to a dead hare(1965).
In the 1970s, he developed the concept of “social sculpture,” using art as an instrument of collective transformation. Politically active, he founded several organizations and participated in the creation of the environmentalist party Die Grünen. His provocative performances, such asI like America and America likes Me(1974), illustrate his experimental approach and his exploration of social and personal wounds through symbolic materials.
