A banner with anti-Semitic images caused a scandal at the Documenta in Kassel. The outrage extends to Berlin. The artist collectives involved show understanding and ask for forgiveness.
The art collectives responsible for anti-Semitic depictions during the Documenta have once again apologized for their work. “We apologize for the pain and fear that the anti-Semitic elements in the figures and drawings have caused to all those who saw them on the spot or in the media coverage reproductions,” said Ade Darmawan of the Ruangrupa curating collective at the Culture Committee of the Bundestag.
At the most important exhibition for contemporary art after the Venice Biennale, a work with anti-Semitic imagery was discovered after the opening in mid-June. The “People’s Justice” banner by Indonesian art collective Taring Padi was then taken down. Even before the opening, there had been largely unproven allegations of anti-Semitism against the curating collective Ruangrupa, which also comes from Indonesia.
Taring Padi was also insightful again. “That was a mistake that we admit,” said the collective of the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”. “We apologize for that. Also for the injuries caused by these cartoons.” When the work was created 20 years ago, the collective did not understand that it was about anti-Semitic depictions. It is “part of our learning process now when we talk and reflect on the topic.”
On behalf of the curating team, Darmawan rejected accusations that no artists from Israel were represented at the documenta. “There is no boycott,” Darmawan said. The Documenta shows both Israeli and Jewish artists, who at their own request did not want to be named.
Well over 1000 artists are represented at the Documenta, a large number of them as part of collectives. Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth pointed out in the committee the need to combat anti-Semitism at international level as well. “The Holocaust is a German invention. From this comes a responsibility for our country and for all of us,” said the Green politician in the Bundestag’s culture committee. “If we are serious, then as Germans we must also fight the global reality of anti-Semitism in a global context.”
Managing Director Daniel Botmann spoke of “Jew hatred in its purest form” and a “massive derailment” for the Central Council of Jews. Botmann holds the Documenta management directly responsible for this, namely the chairman of the supervisory board, Kassel’s mayor Christian Geselle, and the general director Sabine Schormann. Both failed to appear on the committee.
While Schormann had canceled due to illness, Geselle made other appointments. This was criticized across factions. Hesse’s Green Art Minister Angela Dorn called for an “honest analysis”. At the request of the state, there will be a special meeting of the Documenta supervisory board. Dorn supported Roth’s call for a reform of the Documenta. The federal government wants to stop funding via its cultural foundation without structural influence.
