YOKOTA TOKYO was pleased to present “ARCHIVE–October 1972, Joseph Beuys・Abraham David Christian.”

The time when “Documenta 5” held in 1972 was socially, artistically, and culturally in turmoil. Christian, then-nineteen-year-old, accompanied fifty-one-year-old Beuys, witnessing the whirlwind of changes of this “1972”.

This turmoil resonated with Beuys’ actions as a part of 100-day event program of the exhibition: Beuys’ Büro für Direkte Demokratie durch Volksabstimmung (Organization for Direct Democracy by Referendum) and Beuys’ and Christian’s Boxkampf für direkte Demokratie (Boxing Match for Direct Democracy) on the last of day (October 8) of the exhibition. Two days later, Beuys occupied the office of Kunstacademie Düsseldorf, and he was fired on the next day of incident. Finally, Christian carried out vorher/nachher die Schöpfung (before / after Creation of the Man) that took form of protection against the dismissal of Beuys from the academy.

This exhibition consisted of four sections echoing two artists’ works and actions described above, showing ephemera including photographs, leaflets, artists’ statements, and posters. These precious archival materials convey the air of excitement at the time even after five decades.

Related event:
A talk by Abraham David Christian "Nothingness" was held on July 13th. Please see the details here.