Documenta 13: A State of the Contemporary World in Kassel
Documenta 13, overseen by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, took place in Kassel, Germany, from June 9 to September 16, 2012, without a central theme. The exhibition offered a disjointed perspective on modern society, challenging the art market. At the Fridericianum, visitors encountered Lee Miller's photographs of Hitler's residence, Bactrian figurines, alongside pieces by Morandi and Penone. World War II themes were represented through Charlotte Salomon's drawings and a video by Clemens von Wedemeyer. Afghan artists showcased their works at the former Elisabeth Hospital, while Michael Rakowitz created sculptures representing books lost in the 1941 Kassel bombings. Other highlights included Pierre Huyghe's enclosed environment and Claire Pentecost's environmental focus. The Neue Galerie emphasized resistance, and William Kentridge's 'The Refusal of Time' was displayed at the former main station.
Key facts
- Documenta 13 ran from June 9 to September 16, 2012, in Kassel, Germany.
- Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev curated the exhibition, which had no title or specific concept.
- The subtitle was 'The dance was frantic, wild, noisy, ringing, swirling, crazy, and it lasted a very very long time.'
- The exhibition spanned five years of preparation and multiple venues.
- The Fridericianum rotunda, called 'the brain,' featured works by Lee Miller, Giorgio Morandi, Giuseppe Penone, and Lawrence Weiner.
- Themes included World War II, the Afghanistan war, colonialism, and environmental protection.
- Artists included Kader Attia, Pierre Huyghe, William Kentridge, Janet Cardiff, and Francis Alys.
- The exhibition resisted the art market and included seminars in Kabul, Alexandria, and Cairo.
Entities
Artists
- Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev
- Lawrence Weiner
- Lee Miller
- Giorgio Morandi
- Giuseppe Penone
- Ryan Gander
- Charlotte Salomon
- Clemens von Wedemeyer
- Michael Rakowitz
- Mario Garcia Torres
- Alighiero Boetti
- Kader Attia
- Omer Fast
- Raimundas Malasauksas
- Sam Durant
- Maria Loboda
- Pierre Huyghe
- Emma Lavigne
- Claire Pentecost
- Amar Kanwar
- Mark Dion
- Susan Hiller
- Sanja Ivekovic
- William Kentridge
- Janet Cardiff
- Rabih Mroue
- Allora and Calzadilla
- Adrian Vilar Rojas
- Francis Alys
- Tacita Dean
- Joseph Beuys
- Rosa Luxemburg
- Paul Celan
Institutions
- Documenta
- Fridericianum
- Neue Galerie
- Ottoneum
- Elisabeth Hospital
- Centre Pompidou
- Breitenau concentration camp
- One Hotel
- Kabul seminars
- Alexandria seminars
- Cairo seminars
Locations
- Kassel
- Germany
- Fridericianum
- Karlsaue park
- Ottoneum
- Neue Galerie
- Elisabeth Hospital
- Kabul
- Afghanistan
- Alexandria
- Egypt
- Cairo
- Bamyan
- Orissa
- India
- Mexico
- Syria
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Auschwitz
- Poland
Sources
- artpress —