Rose for Direct Democracy

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.

30 June 1972 – 8 October 1972

Exhibition: Documenta 5

October 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.

1972–1985

The project “In Defence of Nature” in Bolognano

From 1972 to 1985 Beuys carried out in Bolognano the project “Operation In Defence of Nature”, the Italian project with the greatest international impact: artistic, political, ecological and humanitarian actions, among them the “Paradise Plantation” of 7,000 plants (1982) and “Olivestone” (1984).

1974

Founds the Free International University

Together with Heinrich Böll, Beuys opened an international-level university where anyone could study — with no age limits and no entrance competition.

1974

Blackboard talks with Buckminster Fuller

In Edinburgh, at Richard Demarco's “Black & White Oil Conference”, Beuys worked with Buckminster Fuller: at the Forrest Hill Schoolhouse he discussed “The Energy Plan of the Western Man” with audiences at a blackboard.