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Joseph Beuys: Honey is Flowing in All Directions
| Title | Joseph Beuys: Honey is Flowing in All Directions |
| Writer | |
| Date | 2024-11-07 21:25:36 |
| Type | |
| Link | Listen Read |
Desciption
On the centenary of Beuys’ birth, a new edition of the classic book on his Free International University at Documenta 6Documenta, Kassel, 1977: a pump driven by two strong motors forces two tons of honey over a 55-foot-high pipe into a network of tubes that traverses the rooms of the Fridericianum Museum. This was the core of Joseph Beuys’ (1921–86) “Free International University,” which he brought to life at Documenta 6. Around his Honeypump in the Workplace Beuys created events that expanded his notion of art and starkly differentiated it from tradition. For Beuys, “workplace” meant talks, speeches, workgroup discussions and citizens’ action committees. For 100 days he tirelessly expressed his ideas on how art and society must necessarily change, filling numerous blackboards with texts, diagrams and musical scores. On June 28, 1977, Beuys invited Klaus Staeck and Gerhard Steidl to join him in servicing and maintaining his honeypump, which was carefully documented in the photographs of this book, first published in 1997 and now reconceived by Staeck and Steidl. Read more
Review
'Honey is flowing in all Directions' is an important historical document. It covers one of the most inventive and evocative works Joseph Beuys made for the Documenta exhibition 6 in Kassel, Germany in 1977. The Documenta is the world's foremost art manifestation, which happens every five years. This book can be perceived as a case study about the way Joseph Beuys thought and worked. The photographs in the book are made by Gerhard Steidl, the 'house photographer' of several Documenta's. Klaus Staeck, one of the foremost publishers and distributors of art books and special editions in Germany, published this book. It's a beautiful and inspiring publication that should be on every modern art lover's book shelf. Beuys' 'Honigpumpe am Arbeitsplatz', an installation in the central staircase at the Museum Fridericianum during Documenta 6 was a milestone. A large electrical pump squeezed fluid honey through a circuit of transparent tubes going up and down the staircase and entering adjacent spaces. The Honey Pump represented an Industry both of Vision and Discourse: Beuys' installation was physically and spiritually connected to a space behind the staircase where daily discussions took place. They were organized by the Free International College for Creativity and Interdisciplinary Research, an organization founded by Beuys. Its evocative power and intelligent social interface makes Honigpumpe am Arbeitsplatz a hallmark in the history of twentieth century art.
