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1960s

Forms the idea of “social sculpture”

Drawing on Novalis and Schiller and on Rudolf Steiner's ideas of social threefolding, Beuys developed the concept of social sculpture: society as a whole is one great work of art to which everyone can contribute creatively (“everyone is an artist”).

27. Juni 1968 – 6. Oktober 1968

Exhibition: 4. documenta

1970

In Scotland with Demarco: the idea of “7000 Oaks”

Invited by Richard Demarco, Beuys came to Scotland; at Loch Awe and Rannoch Moor he first conceived the necessity of “7000 Oaks”.

1970

The 1970 Edinburgh Festival: “Arena” and “The Pack”

In August 1970, at the Edinburgh International Festival, Beuys, with Günther Uecker, Blinky Palermo, Robert Filliou and other Düsseldorf artists, showed the retrospective “Arena” and the installation “The Pack” and performed “Celtic Kinloch Rannoch”, using a blackboard for the first time; a year later he developed the action in Basel as “Celtic+”.

1972

Bolognano: a second home and Baroness De Domizio Durini

After spending time in Naples (where in 1972 he staged “Vitex Agnus Castus”) and Foggia, Beuys came to Bolognano (Pescara) at the invitation of Lucrezia De Domizio and Buby Durini and returned many times, making it his second home. Baroness Lucrezia De Domizio Durini became one of his main supporters, the publisher of twenty-seven of his works and one of his major collectors.

1972

Dismissed from the Düsseldorf Academy

Beuys abolished entry requirements to his class, and this policy caused friction; in 1972 he found 142 rejected applicants whom he wished to take on and, with 16 students, occupied the academy's offices. The relationship became irreconcilable and in October he was dismissed; he refused to accept the dismissal, which provoked a wave of protests from students, artists and critics.