Watch the moment Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys—‘two rival popes’—first meet

An exhibition at Thaddaeus Ropac gallery in London rekindles the second two titans of Twentieth-century artwork—Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys—first met (and the moderately awkward change that ensued). The present, Andy Warhol: The Joseph Beuys Portraits (till 9 February), brings collectively lots of the Pop artwork grasp’s celebrated portraits of the German efficiency artist and theorist (the Beuys portraits are held within the collections of establishments akin to Tate, London however that is the primary time the group of works, together with some dazzling diamond mud items, has been introduced in a solo focus present since they had been exhibited within the Eighties).

The infamous pair first met at an exhibition opening at Hans Mayer gallery in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1979. The entertaining clip, which is accessible in all its glory to view on YouTube, reveals Beuys striding in the direction of Warhol on the glitzy vernissage. A weird commentary provides that the artwork world “holds its breath” because the “first summit assembly [took place] between the prime ministers of two main creative powers which are worlds aside”. Andy seems to be suitably uneasy as Beuys says that “it was at all times very tough to satisfy you”, prompting Warhol to whip out a digital camera and take a Polaroid of the Inexperienced celebration founding member. The artwork author David Galloway described the encounter as having “the ceremonial aura of two rival popes assembly in Avignon” (bless them).