root to crown: a joseph beuys symposium

In 1974 the island of Ireland was captivated by the arrival of a German conceptual artist making waves across Europe for his radical approach to art, learning and community, Joseph Beuys. 

Fifty years on from a series of lectures that were held across the island of Ireland, we look at how they were embedded in the psyche of those who witnessed them and how this inspired generations of artists on the island of Ireland to organise, create and disrupt the established norms. 

Coinciding with the 175 years of The Belfast School of Art, Root to Crown will explore the initial impacts of Beuys visit at Crawford Art College, Co. Cork, The Ulster Museum Belfast and The Belfast School of Art. We will hear about how these lectures and approaches to practice influenced the creation of new organisations such as Art and Research Exchange a decade later. 

Root to Crown also welcomes artists from across the island whose work touches on themes present in Beuys practice on landscape, ecology, pedagogy and time. 

Root to Crown is a programmed event by Belfast International Festival of Performance Art as part of Beuys: 50 Years Later at the Ulster Museum. 

Programme of events

• 10:00 Welcome from BIFPA committee member Thomas Wells 
• 10:30 to 11:30:  Root - an in conversation with Maud Cotter 
• 11:30 to 12:30:  Trunk - ‘Hedge School’ a performance lecture by Tom Ó Caollan 
• LUNCH provided by Ulster Museum 
• 13:30 to 14:30 Bole: Art and Research Exchange an in conversation with Belinda Loftus, Alastair McLennan and Rainer Pagel
• 14:30 to 15:30: Branches - a performance by Rainer Pagel (performance will follow directly after ARE talk)
• 15:30 to 16:30: Leaves - Brian Connolly - a talk by the prolific artist, educator and organiser in the creation of ‘Available Resources’ and ‘Bbeyond’
• 16:30 to 17:00 Crown:  ‘Jarred. Beuys’ Legacy from Irpinia to Belfast’ a performance from Marina Iodice
• 17:00 - 17:30 Crown - 'Cher Ami' a performance from Hollie Miller
• 17:00 - 19:00 Skywards - an archive installation by Siobhán Mullen 
• [symposium will be followed by the launch of a new BIFPA publication ‘Creativity + Conflict till 8pm]

Root to Crown will be followed by the launch of a new publication ‘Creativity + Conflict’ , a document of the Belfast International Festival of Performance Art in 2023 featuring newly commissioned essays. Creativity and Conflict has been compiled by BIFPA committee members and designed by Keith Connolly. 

What to know 

• This symposium is taking place in Ulster Museum Belfast Room & Lecture Theatre from 10:00 to 20:00 on Monday 18th November. 
• Book your place for free through the ticket link. 

BIFPA Committee members are: Brian Connolly, Sandra Johnston, Brian Patterson, Siobhán Mullen, Sinéad O’Donnell, Zara Lyness and Thomas Wells.  With thanks to the staff at Ulster Museum and Fine Art Curator Anna Liesching. In parentship with Belfast International Festival of Performance Art

Image credit: Tom Ó Caollaí