Documenta celebrates 70 years: A new chapter under Naomi Beckwith!

Documenta celebrates 70 years: A new chapter under Naomi Beckwith!

Kassel, Deutschland - The documenta this year celebrates its 70th birthday on June 7, 2023. The renowned exhibition was first on July 15, 1955 opened in Kassel and has since established itself as one of the most important platforms for contemporary art. In addition to the Biennale in Venice, the Documenta is considered significant. So far, 15 editions of Documenta have taken place, but the youngest, Documenta Fifteen, stood in the shade of massive anti-Semitism debates.

The last edition was curated by the Indonesian artist collective Ruangrupa. Previously, accusations had become loud that some artists had a closeness to the BDS movement. Post opening Werks with anti-Semitic visual language were discovered and left behind, which led to public outrage. As a result, the structures of the documenta were fundamentally reformed, and the management committed itself to a code of conduct. Minister of Art Timon Gremmels sees Documenta on the right path for these changes.

New course under Naomi Beckwith

The new curator Naomi Beckwith brings a breath of fresh air to the organization. She is described as director and chief curator of the Guggenheim Museum in New York and sees her new role as "one of the most exciting challenges". Beckwith announced that he is committed to human dignity and mutual respect and not tolerate any form of violence. Their goal is to make the documenta a place where different identities are seen as strength and the dialogue is encouraged.

In the summer of 2025, Beckwith will move to Kassel to lead the preparations for the next issue, Documenta 16, which is planned for the period from June 12 to September 19, 2027. The Hessian Minister of Culture praised Beckwith's impressive vita and her successor to the Ruangrupa collective, which the controversial Documenta Fifteen curated. According to Weltkunst , Beckwith already outlined her vision in front of about 700 visitors.

the social context and challenges

The reviews that have become loud during the last documenta illustrate the need to clearly position themselves against anti -Semitism. Historical perspectives on anti-Semitism show how deeply rooted prejudices in art and social history are. Some representations from the 15th century are particularly problematic, as they show the negative perception of physical malformations, which have been interpreted as aesthetic and moral deficits. Such artistic repetitions not only influenced social attitude, but also artistic work. The GNM addresses these relationships and clarifies the historical roots from which today's problems result.

Kassel's mayor Sven Schoeller emphasizes the importance of documenta as a forum for critical discussions. The planned organizational changes are intended to ensure that the documenta not only remains a mirror of its time, but also finds effective answers to current social issues. Through the upcoming reforms, those responsible hope to make documenta a safer space for everyone involved.