Documenta 12: A Confusing Mix of Art, History, and Decorative Objects

Documenta 12, held from June 16 to September 23, 2007, in Kassel, Germany, was curated by Roger Buergel and Ruth Noack. The exhibition avoided a comprehensive survey of recent art, instead juxtaposing works across history and cultures, with themes difficult to discern in the installation. The catalog eschewed alphabetical order for a chronological one starting in the 14th century. The market was less visible than at previous editions. The curators, both German, drew heavily on Viennese institutions: the Generali Foundation and the Museum für Angewandte Kunst (MAK). This resulted in a focus on Eastern European artists like Jirí Kovanda, Sanja Evikovic, and Mladen Stilinovic, and a blurring of fine and applied arts, seen in works by Ai Weiwei, John McCracken, and Hokusai. The installation dispersed multiple works by artists such as Gerwald Rockenschaub, John McCracken, and Juan Davila across venues, creating decorative visual connections. Notable works included Eleanor Antin's 'Blood of the Poet' (1965-68), Trisha Brown's dance installation, and Harun Farocki's video piece on the World Cup final. The curators failed to break from the model set by Documenta 10 and 11, offering alternatives rather than new foundations. The exhibition left an impression of confusion, mixing history, geography, and media, with discourse prevailing over artworks.