Joseph Beuys: Periphery Workshop: documenta 6, 24?30 June 1977

Diagrams as drawing as pedagogy: Beuys’ Documenta workshop on expanding Europe

On April 27 1973, Joseph Beuys (1921–86) founded the Free International University for Creativity and Interdisciplinary Research, a staunchly antiestablishment institution designed to help individuals realize their creative potential (regardless of their social, economic and educational backgrounds); and for that creativity―through art―to foster social progress. As part of the university, Beuys staged an ambitious series of 13 workshops over 100 days at Documenta 6 in 1977, including the Migrant Workshop, the Violence and Behavior Workshop, the Nuclear Energy and Alternatives Workshop, and―the subject of this book―the Periphery Workshop.

At the heart of the Periphery Workshop were, in Beuys’ words, the themes of “peripheral regions Europe / enlarging the EEC / France-German axis / common strategies for the regions and the Mediterranean countries.” Visitors were invited to discuss and ask Beuys any question on these topics. Beuys filled dozens of blackboards with fascinating drawings, diagrams and thoughts―intricate artworks that form the basis of this book.