- documenta
Naomi Beckwith, Artistic Director of the upcoming documenta, which will take place from June 12 to September 19, 2027, in Kassel, offered the public a first look at her curatorial approach for documenta 16. The Artistic Director, appointed in December 2024 by an international Finding Committee, invited the attendees to take a journey through her curatorial work and explained the themes and artistic strategies she has engaged with throughout her career – and the conceptual approaches she is pursuing for documenta 16. She convincingly demonstrated how issues of respect, human dignity, and personal appreciation hold a prominent place in her work, both in her engagement with artists and in her interaction with audiences.
The invitation from documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH sparked overwhelming interest in the Kassel community and the media. Around 700 people attended Naomi Beckwith’s presentation at documenta Halle and posed questions following the talk.
Naomi Beckwith explained her position in the course of the presentation and put the audience in the mood for the journey to documenta: “Leading the artistic charge for documenta is the thrill of a lifetime and participating in documenta is that same for many artists globally. As the artists and artistic teams work together, we all know that we will do that in the spirit of deep mutual respect and sharing with our different identities as a matter of strength and not as a cause for division. We also realize that artists have opinions, points of view, they are citizens, they are engaged with society and the context in which they work. Together with artists and curators, we want to think about what futures we can shape together and what art can do for the world.”
Following the event Lord Mayor of the City of Kassel and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of documenta gGmbH, Sven Schoeller shared his thoughts: “Naomi Beckwith's first insights into her curatorial work inspire excitement and confidence – and documenta 16 is now beginning to take shape. Her expertise, enthusiasm, and the start of her work in Kassel set a promising milestone on the path to an extraordinary and globally influenced exhibition in Kassel in 2027.
Hessian Minister of Science and Research, Arts and Culture and Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH, Timon Gremmels, stated: “Naomi Beckwith is impressive: with her background, intellectual sharpness, clarity in assuming curatorial responsibility, and her understanding of the significance of documenta – both for Kassel and for the world. In her presentation, she has impressively outlined how she will shape her curatorial path toward documenta 16 including how she will reconcile artistic and discursive freedom with protection against anti-Semitism and discrimination. Her persuasive approach earns our utmost recognition. We now eagerly follow the next steps towards the upcoming exhibition. I am very much looking forward to the summer of 2027 and to welcoming thousands of visitors to my home region, where they will experience documenta as a beacon of the international art world.”
Andreas Hoffmann, Managing Director of documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH, summarized the sentiments expressed by many attendees during the subsequent get-together: “Once again, I am looking forward to working with Naomi Beckwith and to the prospect of an exhibition that addresses pressing global issues and works with a circle of international artists to develop positions that approach these issues in a highly individual and respectful manner. In today’s world of multiple crises and wars, increasingly difficult communication, and superpowers focused on confrontation, art offers a valuable space for experimentation, utopia, and reflection. In the aesthetic exploration of the tension between individual perception and external conditions lies the potential for all of us to find courage, build trust in one another, and, not least, enjoy an inspiring time together in Kassel.”
The next documenta takes place from June 12 to September 19, 2027, in Kassel.
You can find image material to download here.
