- documenta
Seven scholars with outstanding academic expertise in the fields of antisemitism, perspectives from global contexts and post-colonialism, art and constitutional law will advise documenta in the coming months. The committee will be chaired by Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff, executive board member of the Leibniz Institute “Peace Research Institute Frankfurt” (HSFK) and executive spokesperson of the “Research Institute for Social Cohesion” (FGZ). This was announced by the shareholders of documenta and Museum Fridericianum gGmbH. In the light of the antisemitic incidents the Supervisory Board has agreed on July 15, 2022 to adopt several measures, including a scientific advisory panel. The aim is to ensure that documenta continues to enjoy its worldwide unique status as an exhibition for contemporary art in Kassel.
The proposal for the appointment of the advisory panel was developed by Angela Dorn, Hessian Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts, and Dr. Susanne Völker, Head of the Cultural Department of the City of Kassel on behalf of the shareholders of documenta and Museum Fridericianum gGmbH. The Supervisory Board approved the proposal and recommended it to the shareholdersʼ meeting, which also confirmed it.
“We would like to thank the scientists who make their scientific expertise available at such short notice. For such top-class researchers, this is by no means natural, as they have numerous other obligations,” explained Kasselʼs Lord Mayor Christian Geselle, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of documenta, his deputy on the Supervisory Board, Angela Dorn, and Head of the Cultural Department Dr. Susanne Völker.
The scientists are responsible for the first review of the processes, structures and receptions around the documenta fifteen. They should make recommendations for the overhaul of documenta structures and discuss which aspects might require a more in-depth scientific analysis. They will also discuss possible further antisemitic imagery and language as well as works already identified as antisemitic. They will present their results to the Supervisory Board and the shareholders. To start a dialogue the results will be made then available to documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH and the curators. The freedom of arts is protected, the curatorial responsibility remains the explicit task of the Artistic Direction ruangrupa. “We have brought together scientists with very different perspectives and from very different disciplines to foster a constructive, multi-perspective dialogue and, through that, advance a process that will give us as shareholders important and independent impulses for the necessary changes in the future. There will probably also be discussions about how to deal with what happened and how to react to some works of art where no uniform assessment within the advisory panel can be reached. It is crucial that the different viewpoints are transparent and enter into a dialogue with one another,” Geselle and Dorn added.
“With the recommendation for scientific support, the supervisory board has clearly positioned itself to effectively combat antisemitism and other group-focused forms of hostility in arts and culture. Taking into account the constitutionally protected freedom of art, we expect that references to possible antisemitic imagery and the promotion of Israel-related antisemitism will be thoroughly looked after,” underlines Christian Geselle, Mayor of Kassel, speaking in his role as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
“The reoccurring antisemitic motifs seen at documenta fifteen demonstrate the continuous actuality and reproduction of antisemitism. It is therefore essential, that the antisemitic incidences and the related reception and events are reviewed and examined by the scientific advisory panel. The scientific analysis of other works with regard to antisemitic motifs will be of utter importance to us shareholders in the coming weeks. On this basis long lasting lessons for dealing with antisemitic incidences in art and culture can be drawn and thus have an effect beyond documenta. Coming to terms with what has happened and learning for the future might help to regain the trust lost in the past few weeks,” says Angela Dorn.
“The loss of trust around the incidences of antisemitic motifs overshadow this documenta and put it into a different light. Our aim is now to engage in a factful and thorough discourse and mutual dialogue to restore trust. In a variety of artistic projects, documenta fifteen poses the essential questions of our time. A science based and sophisticated review of the antisemitic incidents and their contexts is necessary and at the same time will also make it possible to open up for the artworks at the documenta again,” explains Dr. Susanne Völker.
“Our scientific support has a central aim: To research how the antisemitic incidences could have happened and develop recommendations, on how in the context of the running exhibition and beyond it can be dealt with as well as to prevent that it will not happen again,” so the chair, Prof. Dr. Deitelhoff. The advisory panel will be supported in terms of content and organization by Dr. Cord Schmelzle, coordinator of the Frankfurt branch of the FGZ.
The committee will set a special focus beyond document fifteen, as the committee can initiate in-depth scientific studies. The scientific analysis of those works of art at documenta fifteen, that have been hinted to use antisemitic imagery or language, is to be carried out while the exhibition is still running. “The facsimile of the brochure of “Presence des Femmes” and therein shown drawing of the artist Burhan Karkoutly is another item with antisemitic imagery. This shows how important the review is. We, the shareholders, are aware of the great public interest in the findings and recommendations of the advisory panel. However, scientific work requires a certain amount of thoroughness and concentration, which we want to grant. We ask for your understanding that press work will be targeted and members do not want to and will not express themselves publicly and individually,” conclude Geselle and Dorn.
Members of the advisory committee are:
Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff (Chair), Goethe University Frankfurt / HSFK / FGZ
Prof. Dr. Marion Ackermann, Dresden State Art Collections
Prof. Dr. Julia Bernstein, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
Marina Chernivsky, OFEK e.V. / ZWST
Prof. Peter Jelavich, PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Prof. Dr. Christoph Möllers, Humboldt University of Berlin
Prof. Dr. Facil Tesfaye, University of Hong Kong / EHESS Paris
Additional advisor:
Prof. Dr. Meron Mendel, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences / Anne Frank Educational Center