Joseph Beuys / Organisation für direkte Demokratie durch Volksabstimmung

BEUYS Joseph (Krefeld 1921 - Düsseldorf 1986)

Düsseldorf, Organisation für direkte Demokratie durch Volksabstimmung, [1971], 29,8x21 cm., loose photocopied sheetsbound with two metal staples, sheets: [2]-0/15-[2] (pp. 20), The Organization for Direct Democracy through Popular Referendum”(Organisation für direkte Demokratie durch Volksabstimmung) was a political organization founded by the artists Joseph Beuys, Johannes Stüttgen, and Karl Fastabend on June 19, 1971, in Düsseldorf. In the spring of 1970, Joseph Beuys rented a shop in the historic center of Düsseldorf, at Andreasstraße 25, which he transformed into a public information and action office accessible to everyone. On June 19, 1971, the Organization for Direct Democracy through Popular Referendum was founded there. One year later, Beuys presented the office of the Organization for Direct Democracy through Popular Referendum as his contribution to Documenta 5 in Kassel, where he discussed for 100 days the social design issues of direct democracy and the ways to implement it. The public visibility of “Documenta” helped raise awareness of the organization which found its maximum expression on October 8 with the “Boxing Match for Direct Democracy through Popular Referendum” took place, in which Beuys fought against Abraham David Christian; subsequently, the information office in Kassel was closed.