Joseph Beuys Born in 1921 in Krefeld (Germany). Died in 1986. "Olivestone" (1984) Olivestone is composed of five 18th century decantation basins (blocks of sandstone immersed in oil being inserted into the hollow parts). The installation condenses the significations and themes that run through all of Beuys's work, for example the idea of spiritual purification and the synthesis of the different states of matter.