Joseph Beuys (Krefeld, 1921 – Düsseldorf, 1986) was not merely an artist, but one of the most emblematic, prophetic, and revolutionary figures of the 20th century. Embodying the role of the artist-shaman, Beuys radically redefined the boundaries of artistic practice, transforming sculpture from a static object into an evolutionary social process. His work, inextricably linked to his own biography and the history of post-war Europe, continues to influence contemporary thought through the concept of Social Sculpture (Soziale Plastik) and his famous declaration: “Every human being is an artist.” The genesis of Beuys’s art lies deep within the trauma of the Second World War. Born in Krefeld, Germany, in 1921, Beuys joined the Luftwaffe as a fighter pilot. ...> Read more