Joseph Beuys biography

Joseph Beuys, born on 12 May 1921 in Krefeld, established himself as one of the most influential and multifaceted artists of the twentieth century, ranging from the role of painter and sculptor to that of performer. Son of the merchant Josef Jakob Beuys and Johanna Maria Margarete Hülsermann, Joseph Beuys claims Kleve as his birthplace. During his youth, he attended the Hindenburg-Oberschule in Kleve and joined the Hitler Youth. With the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted in the air force, becoming an on-board radio operator and acquiring the rank of sergeant. In March 1944, during a mission on the Eastern Front, his Stuka crashed in the Crimea, an event that profoundly affected his life and art. Joseph Beuys claims to have been saved by Tatar nomads, who treated him with traditional practices. This experience, although doubtful in its veracity, strongly influenced his artistic career.
After the war, Joseph Beuys studied art at the Düsseldorf Academy under the teachings of Josef Enseling and Ewald Mataré , approaching the anthroposophical theories of Rudolf Steiner and developing a deep love for nature. In these years, he began to explore social sculpture , a concept that became fundamental in his work. In 1961, he obtained the professorship of monumental sculpture at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, where he had studied.
Joseph Beuys became an active member of the artistic group "Fluxus", collaborating with artists such as George Maciunas, Nam June Paik, Wolf Vostell and Charlotte Moorman. It is in this period that he begins to create his famous " Actions ", performances that underline his interest in the interaction between art and society. Among his best-known actions are "Der Chef", "Das Schweigen Marcel Duchamps wird überbewertet" and "Wie man einem toten Hasen Bilder erklärt".
In the 1970s, Joseph Beuys' art became increasingly oriented towards social and political issues. By founding the Free International University with Heinrich Böll , he became involved in the Green movement, emphasizing his concern for the environment and nature. In Italy, Joseph Beuys is active and welcome, with numerous exhibitions and projects, including the foundation of the Institute for the Rebirth of Agriculture in Bolognano and the creation of the Paradise Plantation.
In 1982, he participates in "Documenta" in Kassel, presenting "7000 oaks", a work that underlines his ecological vision. Joseph Beuys promotes art as a tool for social and political transformation, expressing the concept that "every human being is an artist".
Joseph Beuys died on January 23, 1986 in Düsseldorf, leaving a profound and influential artistic legacy. His works, often characterized by the use of materials such as felt and fat, are preserved in international museum collections. His life, marked by tumultuous events and revolutionary art, continues to be a source of inspiration and study.