While the documenta forum wants a factual error analysis, the federal government’s anti-Semitism commissioner accuses those responsible of dealing with the allegations “devastatingly”.
The anti-Semitism scandal at documenta fifteen continues to make waves. The federal government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, criticized the documenta management’s handling of allegations as “devastating” and called for consequences.
On the other hand, the documenta forum – a kind of circle of friends and supporters of the world art show – called on those responsible in Kassel as well as in the federal and state governments of Hesse to analyze the error and engage in dialogue.
No one in charge came to the culture committee
“It is completely incomprehensible that the offers of support from the state of Hesse and the federal government to change the structures, especially with regard to the international effects, were rejected,” said Klein of the Funke media group. The lack of cooperation with the director of the Anne Frank educational institution (Frankfurt am Main), Meron Mendel, shows that “the documenta management is ultimately not interested in a serious dialogue,” said Klein. “It also shows a lack of respect for the German Bundestag that none of the responsible persons appeared before the culture committee and answered the legitimate questions of the parliamentarians.”
He said he “understands that those who are creative and interested in culture are now turning their backs on the documenta.” Klein hopes “that this will finally lead to the scandal being adequately dealt with and the necessary consequences to be drawn.”
The documenta fifteen in Kassel was shaken by the next scandal on Friday – two important actors withdrew. First, the head of the Anne Frank educational institution announced that he would no longer be available to advise the show, which had been heavily criticized for its anti-Semitic depictions. Later, the German artist Hito Steyerl announced her withdrawal from the exhibition.
The documenta forum meanwhile conceded that the art show was rightly criticized for the anti-Semitic elements. “The damage done to the documenta is considerable,” said the forum in Kassel on Monday. “Unfortunately, a series of debates in Kassel, Wiesbaden and Berlin over the past few days have been rather unsettling rather than creating clarity. Instead of an orienting dialogue between the important institutions and the democratic parties, it was more characterized by selective self-portrayals and emphasis on individual positions.”
Even the freedom of art has limits
One regrets that the apology from the curator collective Ruangrupa “and their thoughtful, serious and reflective attitude to taking back possibly incriminated exhibits remained almost ineffective”. More than 1500 artists are guests of Kassel. “You don’t deserve to be put under general suspicion,” the forum said. “They show us a different perspective on the art of the world, which we should appreciate and still welcome them here.”
At its core, the discussion is about the freedom of art, which, like all freedom, has its limits and cannot be had without responsibility. One respects the self-critical view of those responsible for the documenta. “Your grueling work must not be condemned in bulk – especially under Corona conditions,” it said. “Instead of urgently calling for personal consequences, an error analysis should be drawn up.” In view of the importance of the exhibition, which extends far beyond Germany, it would also be “urgently desirable that those responsible in Kassel, Wiesbaden and Berlin talk more to each other than about each other”.
Shortly after the opening of the show, which is considered the most important exhibition for contemporary art alongside the Venice Biennale, a work with anti-Semitic imagery was discovered. The banner “People’s Justice” by the Indonesian art collective Taring Padi was then taken down. As a consequence, the organizers of the exhibition had announced, among other things, that all other works would be checked for anti-Semitic content. (dpa)