Documenta Fifteen from June 18 to September 25, 2022
Alongside the Venice Biennale, the Documenta is regarded as the most important presentation of contemporary art. It has been held in Kassel every five years since 1955 – this year from June 18th to September 25th. It’s the 15th Documenta.
documenta fifteen
54 artists and groups of artists from all over the world have been invited to “Documenta Fifteen”. For the first time, a collective has taken over the artistic direction: “Ruangrupa” consists of ten artists from Indonesia.
Concept and artists
Also among the invited artists this year are many artists who often work together with other artists in collectives. Many of them come from the Global South, from countries and cultures that are otherwise rarely seen at exhibitions in Europe and the USA.
Under the motto “Lumbung” – in Indonesia this is a rice barn in which grain is stored, which people in need can help themselves to – the focus should be less on the individual plants and more on the togetherness. Visitors can participate in the art. The works will continue to be worked on during the Documenta.
Criticism of the conception of documenta fifteen
There was early criticism of this concept. The Ruangrupa was accused of social romanticism, the concept was arbitrary, unreflective, without a clear stance. According to criticism, the Lumbung concept is agricultural science, but not a concept for a world art exhibition.
anti-Semitism allegations
The allegations of anti-Semitism against the Ruangrupa because of individual invited artists caused even more excitement and discussion. A Palestinian artist, who is said to have signed an appeal by the BDS movement, caused particular offense. BDS stands for “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions”, a transnational campaign calling for boycott actions against Israel. Of the German Bundestag had 2019 Condemned calls for a boycott by the BDS and decided that organizations that support the BDS should not receive any financial support from the state.
Ruangrupa responded to the allegations by announcing a series of discussions with experts to talk about artistic freedom “in the face of rising racism and anti-Semitism and increasing Islamophobia”. This series was canceled at the beginning of May after the Central Council of Jews criticized the members of this discussion round.
Further information on the Documenta Fifteen:
–
