Joseph Beuys in Leeds

Yesterday I attended a conference in Leeds Art Gallery, organised by the Henry Moore Institute to consider the 'Europeaness' of Joseph Beuys, his art and life. Beuys, who died in 1986 aged 65 was probably someone whose oeuvre could be considered 'difficult' if not downright obscure. His work went beyond narrow boundaries of aesthetics but encompassed many social and philosophical themes. A collaborator of his, Richard Demarco was the keynote speaker at the conference, and related how difficult it was to promote Beuys in Edinburgh, with the arts establishment as it was then imbued with rigid conservatism. Demarco, now aged 87 spoke with passion and humour about his old friend, and made it clear that Beuys, in his view was an innovator of great merit, unlike so many of the celebrity hungry artists of today. Demarco introduced each of his power point slides with the exclamation 'Oh My God' as pictures and texts from the heady days of Beuys' visits to Edinburgh came up, as if he were seeing old friends for the first time in decades on This Is Your Life. I shall have to pay a visit to the Demarco Gallery next time I'm in Edinburgh, and certainly I'll have to say more about Beuys on this site.

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