When Beuys turned a table into a work of art

It's a story from the early days of Campus HoPla: students and GhK employees move into the remaining Henschel buildings. There is a lack of space. But there was no lack of creative ideas - in the summer semester of 1980, eight architecture students quickly organized wood from the demolition of the Henschel halls and built a platform and a gallery in a room on the second floor. Georg Wenzel and Norbert John report from that time: "We came up with this idea because of the high room and the unusual sill height of the windows. The construction was a little improvised, but now we had space, were motivated and could study with vigor!"

But the university management demanded that it be demolished for safety reasons. When the students did not comply, janitors tore down the wooden structures at dawn on October 6, 1980. "Even the police arrived - probably out of concern that we would defend our work unruly. But apart from a few verbal spats, everything remained peaceful. We weren't really barricade fighters," says Norbert John. "But we felt it was arbitrary on the part of the bureaucracy and didn't want to just accept it," recalls Georg Wenzel.

A replacement for the gallery was needed. But how could another demolition be prevented? After in-depth discussions, the decision was made to build an oversized table on a scale of 3:1. As a "piece of furniture", it is not subject to any building regulations, but offers the same advantages as the old gallery. "We can no longer say who exactly came up with the idea. That's what makes it special for us today. It was a joint effort. We planned and built it together," says Norbert John. The Faculty also supported the project with 1000 DM.

The students deliberately timed the construction of the table to coincide with a strike week from November 3 to 8, 1980, due to the rejection of Prof. Michael Daxner's election as President of the GhK by the Minister of Culture. On the one hand, the construction of the table was to be related to general university policy issues and, on the other, the action was to be made public.

The artist christened it the "original table"

The parts of the table are first prefabricated in the wood workshop at the Karlsaue. Once again, improvisation is required. "We were amateurs and didn't know much about carpentry. We could worship a circular saw, but we couldn't operate it. We wouldn't have been able to do it without master carpenter Scholz. I'm sure he was afraid for his machines," smiles Wenzel.

And time is pressing, because Joseph Beuys, who is preparing his artwork "7000 Oaks" in Kassel, has announced his arrival on Friday. So work goes on almost day and night. On Thursday evening, the individual parts can be assembled at their destination. The students have also paid attention to details: For example, the table has a drawer in which plans can be stored. There is now room for three people on the table and five people can work under the table.

Joseph Beuys has often been in Kassel since 1980 for documenta 7 and someone knows someone who knows Beuys. This is how the artist learns about the table construction and is persuaded to explain his political theses in K10 and "inaugurate" the table. He christened it the "original table", signed it and declared it a work of art that was "untouchable and immovable". "Maybe that's why the university management didn't dare to demolish it a second time," John suspects.

A project like this welds people together: Most of the table builders are still in contact today. Their professional activities took them away from Kassel, where they studied, but they always enjoy coming back to K10. But now, especially after the Faculty moved to the new building on the North Campus, the furniture has been largely forgotten. Should it also move? The builders have a clear opinion on this, confirm Wenzel and John: its place is still in K10, because only here does its function and dimensions become clear: a table that is too big in a room that is too small - a shift in scale.

To mark the university's anniversary, the table builders want to come together again in December 2021 to talk about the project. This meeting is one of 50 that will be organized via the anniversary app. Apply, with a bit of luck you will be drawn to this meeting and can visit the Beuys table.

Further information: www.50jahre-unikassel.de

This article appeared in the university magazine publik 2021/3. Text: Kathrin Meckbach