Poster of a photographed Joseph Beuys at his Honey-Pump in the Workplace exhibit.

Joseph Beuys was one of the most influential artists of the late 20th Century. He was a German artist most famous for his sculptures and performance art. Recognized for his avant-garde and political approach to art, Beuys' work has been exhibited across Europe and America, with retrospectives in museums like the Guggenheim and Tate Modern. After serving in the airforce in World War II, Beuys returned to art school and became involved with the Fluxus art group during the 60's. This group of radical artists wanted to expand the definition of art, believing art should be created with the intention of transforming the world socially and politically. 

This poster is a photograph of one of Beuys' famous art installations, Honigpumpe am Arbeitsplatz (Honey-pump in the Workplace). This installation, presented in 1977 at documenta 6, Germany's largest public art exhibition, involved 150 kg of honey pumped through several rooms, as well as a rotating shaft of margarine. This use of unorthdox art materials was typical of Beuys. Beuys himself was also part of the exhibit, and he set up a discussion forum there to discuss his expanded political concept of art. This combination of activism with art embodies the Fluxus mission. 

Artist: Joseph Beuys

Year: 1977

Honigpumpe am Arbeitsplatz

documenta 6 1977 Kassel