Challenging and enlightening two stars of the German art scene on equal footing

The new publication about two artists who view art as a form of social and political intervention. Katharina Sieverding designed costumes and stage sets for the theatre before meeting Joseph Beuys at the Düsseldorf Art Academy in the late 1960s. The book explores the extent to which their high profile and extensive media coverage helped them to bring their political themes into the spotlight.

 What makes Joseph Beuys and Katharina Sieverding iconic? How do they combine their own self-presentation with socio-political messages? After working in Hamburg and at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Sieverding broke new ground in Düsseldorf from 1967 onwards. Aspects of Beuys s teachings, such as participatory processes, and values such as equality and democracy became central to her work. Through a juxtaposition of photographs, videos, multiples and previously unpublished drawings, we witness two stars of German post-war and contemporary art engaged in an intense artistic dialogue.