Beuysnobiscum
VOLUME 147

A Glossary of Joseph Beuys’ Work and Thought

What business did Joseph Beuys (b. 1921 in Krefeld; d. 1986 in Düsseldorf) have with Rudi Dutschke’s bathtub? Why did honey on his head help him think? What did he have to do with Ignatius of Loyola, of all people? And also that hat, was it some kind of prosthesis? Or perhaps an homage to the legendary gangster John Dillinger? The Beuysnobiscum, edited by Harald Szeemann, brings together explanatory essays on the concepts and people, visions and myths central to Joseph Beuys’ work and thought. Established experts on the action artist and sculptor ensure the lexical pleasure of this small encyclopedia, whose shortest entry by far can be found under G for “genius.” As Beuys once said: “The only genius I possess is that I move with the pressure of time, while others move against it.”

Edited by Harald Szeemann (b. 1933 in Bern; d. 2005 in Tenga/Ticino), Swiss art historian, artistic director of documenta 5, and one of the most influential exhibition makers of our age.

With contributions by Laura Arici, Tobia Bezzola, Marc Boehlen, Christoph Beat Graber, Antje von Graevenitz, Mario Kramer, Roman Kurzmeyer, Doris Leutgeb, Cecilia Liveriero Lavelli, Christa-Maria Lerm, Veit Loers, Alois Martin Müller, Klaus-Dieter Pohl, Uwe M. Schneide, Heribert Schulz, Juri Steiner, Rhea Thönges-Stringaris, Johannes Stüttgen, Harald Szeemann, and Kirsten Claudia Voigt.