In 1955 the Documenta was launched by Arnold Bode, to show mainly art which was banned during the Nazi regime. Since then, every 5 years, the Documenta is held in Kassel, exhibiting works in multiple venues across the city for 100 days. This time, part of it was held in Athens earlier, and excerpts integrated to enrich the German event. Even this triggered a bit of discussion among the citizens of Kassel, I liked the concept. We unfortunately only had the chance to gain a one-day impression this year (and we did not go to Greece). The overarching themes are fear, violence, refugees, deterioration of civil rights, environmental degradation, and coping with the world's changes and their impact on human lives. I liked quite a few individual works, more for their innovation than for their beauty though. I don't need to be convinced further, that there is far too much tragedy in the world and that we are not doing enough to resolve it. But as so many things appear to go in the wrong these days, this art is much needed, and should be shown and seen more. In terms of curation, I would have needed a bit more guidance. At least labeling all the art works would have been helpful. But never mind. Perhaps I did not prepare myself well enough, or ISO 9000 left a life long mental disability with me, spotting these things even. The Documenta 14 is very worth seeing. It is still on until September 17th. The website is a nice teaser.
The Kassel Fridericianum crowned by the letters BEINGSAFEISSCARY
Pipe habitats by Hiwa K, Friedrichsplatz opposite the Dokumentahalle.
Living room in a pipe (Hiwa K)
Reading room in a pipe (Hiwa K
Neue Neue Gallerie, behind the new Postal Office.
Alvin Lucier (1985): Sound on Paper. A loudspeaker animating paper in a frame.
Detail of Historja (2003-2007) by Britta Marakatt-Labber. People with pitchforks.
A curtain of reindeer skulls by Máret Ánne Sara. I could not help feeling like standing in front of a class of Bachelor in Commerce students at the University of Malta. But of course, this was not the artist's intention. Just happens to me, when I stand in front of a geometrical assembly of empty skulls.
We also took a walk up to the Herkules, on the western part of town.