Beuys’ Life and Works

Joseph Beuys scheduled his 9th Demarco Gallery presentation for the August 1986 Edinburgh Festival before his death in 1986. 

Robert Demarco invited John David Mooney to create an installation in memory of Beuys in the space he was scheduled to perform. Documentation of the four Beuys-inspired installations, including the piece done in Blackfriar Church, will be available in the International Currents Gallery at the John David Mooney Foundation during the year-long celebration of Beuys’ life, which begins May 12th. 

Marking the 100th anniversary of Joseph Beuys’ birth, the John David Mooney Foundation will feature Beuys’ influence with gallery installations, film screenings, virtual presentations and webinars throughout 2021.

Highlighted are works created by John David Mooney in Scotland memorializing Beuys who died in January 1986.  

Installations/performances by Mooney took place in August at the Demarco Blackfriars Gallery and other public venues coinciding with the Edinburgh Festival. In America Mooney created “Sparky’s Piece” on the main quad of Indiana State University later in 1986.  Both the Edinburgh and the Indiana works involved live horses, a signature of Beuys’ use of contradiction.     

Top Image: Photo was taken from John David Mooney's Blackfriar Reconsecrated installation