Joseph Beuys Beuys – Lehmbruck. Thinking is Sculpture

There are not many artists who caused as radical an upheaval in the history of art as Joseph Beuys. With his concept of Social Sculpture, he sought to apply the liberating potential of art to all areas of life. At the very heart of his thinking was the dissolution of the boundaries between art and society, politics, science and education. Thus Beuys gave rise to a new, expanded concept of art.

In 1986, just a few days before his death, Beuys was awarded the Wilhelm Lehmbruck Prize. In his acceptance speech, he stressed the importance the art of the Expressionist sculptor had for him. He explained how his encounter with Lehmbruck’s work had led him to art in the first place and traced a connection between Lehmbruck and the development of his own concept of Social Sculpture. Marking the 100th  birthday of Joseph Beuys, the exhibition Beuys – Lehmbruck. Thinking is Sculpture explores that idea and presents the work of the two artists.

An exhibition of the Bundeskunsthalle in cooperation with the Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg. The exhibition is part of the Beuys anniversary year programme »beuys 2021. 100 years joseph beuys«, a project of the Ministry of Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in collaboration with the Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. The patron is Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet.