Joseph Beuys' Wirtschaftswerte: A Conservation History at SMAK Ghent
SMAK in Ghent is hosting an exhibition that explores the conservation journey of Joseph Beuys' 1980 piece, Wirtschaftswerte, which will be displayed until September 13, 2026. This installation consists of six metal shelves filled with everyday items from East Germany, each bearing Beuys' signature. A plaster block from the 1960s, featuring a message from 'the Eurasian', is also part of the exhibit. Out of approximately 510 original packages, 462 are still intact, with 292 containing fillings that are not original. Beuys expressed his discontent with alterations made during the 1984 re-installation but ultimately accepted the substitutions. Since the late 1990s, SMAK's conservation lab has recorded various interventions, and the exhibition showcases documentation of previous treatments. Additionally, the 31st conference of the International Institute for Conservation is scheduled to take place in Ghent from September 8–11, 2026. Beuys passed away in 1986.
Key facts
- Joseph Beuys created Wirtschaftswerte in 1980 for the exhibition Kunst in Europa nach '68 curated by Jan Hoet in Ghent.
- The installation includes six metal shelves with East German consumer goods, each signed and stamped by Beuys.
- A plaster block from the 1960s with butter-repaired corners is part of the work, inscribed with a greeting.
- The work requires 19th-century paintings from 1818–1883, chosen anew each time.
- Of ~510 original packages, 462 remain; 292 contain non-original fillings due to insect infestations and replacements.
- Beuys criticized replacement materials that altered weight and texture during a 1984 re-installation in Düsseldorf.
- SMAK's conservation lab has conducted systematic interventions since the late 1990s, including anoxic treatment in 2018 and plaster consolidation in 2019.
- A decision model for conservation was developed between 2015 and 2019.
- The exhibition at SMAK runs until September 13, 2026.
- The 31st IIC conference in Ghent (September 8–11, 2026) will address conserving ensembles.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- SMAK
- Free International University
- International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
- S.M.A.K.
- International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC)
Locations
- Ghent
- Belgium
- Düsseldorf
- Germany
- East Germany
- Repubblica Democratica Tedesca
- Krefeld