Joseph Beuys (1921-86), the German sculptor and performance artist, became one of the most influential figures in modern and contemporary art. His charismatic presence, extraordinary life, and unconventional artistic style gained him international fame and notoriety during the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Beuys’s innovative influence is particularly felt in the field of sculpture, whose definition he expanded to encompass performance art, activism and site-specific environments. His use of unconventional materials including fat, felt, honey, blood and living trees reflected both the mythologising of his personal history and his growing political commitment. Featured objects include a selection of Beuys’s remarkable vitrines, cousins of standard museum presentations, containing both hand-made and found objects blackboards on which he recorded lectures and performances; room-sized environments; and many other objects that served as physical documentation for Beuys’s performances.

With a comprehensive chronology of Beuys’s activities both as an artist and activist, this beautifully illustrated book is essential for those interested in the life, work, and legacy of one of art’s most intriguing figures.

(This is an exhibition catalogue accompany with Joseph Beuys's retrospective in Tate Modern in London, 4 February – 2 May 200)