Documenta 14: Kassel and Athens Curatorial Dialogue
Documenta 14, under the curation of Adam Szymczyk, unfolds in both Kassel and Athens, addressing the dynamics of power between the North and South. Notable highlights include Marta Minujín's "The Parthenon of Books" located at Friedrichsplatz and the Neue Neue Galerie, which explores themes of migration and mobility, featuring pieces like Otobong Nkanga's soaps. Maria Hassabi's "Staging" showcases dancers moving at a deliberate pace. Unconventional venues such as the Giesshaus present Angela Melitopoulos's video on water issues in the Middle East. Abandoned pavilions display works by Vivan Sutter, Angelo Plessas, and Dan Peterman. The EMST collection, including artists like Takis and Jannis Kounellis, is exhibited at the Friedrichanum, while the Documenta Halle emphasizes sound art with contributions from Jani Christou and Alvin Lucier. Additional locations include the Ottoneum, Orangerie, and Hessisches Landesmuseum, prompting a dialogue on curatorial practices versus the artworks themselves.
Key facts
- Documenta 14 curated by Adam Szymczyk spans Kassel and Athens.
- Marta Minujín's 'The Parthenon of Books' on Friedrichsplatz uses censored books.
- Neue Neue Galerie addresses German-Greek migration with Otobong Nkanga's soaps.
- Maria Hassabi's 'Staging' features slow-moving dancers in the former post office.
- Giesshaus, a former Nazi arms factory, hosts Angela Melitopoulos's water video.
- Glass pavilions on Kurt-Schumacher Strasse show works by Vivan Sutter and others.
- Friedricianum exhibits the EMST collection with Takis, Kounellis, Kosuth, Haacke.
- Documenta Halle focuses on sound with Alvin Lucier's 'Sound of Paper'.
- Neue Galerie features monographic rooms for Maria Lei and Greta Bratescu.
- Ibrahim Mahama covers Torwache with jute sacks; Edi Hila's paintings inside.
- Kultur Bahnhof ends with Michel Auder's video and Zafos Xagoraris's sign.
- Szymczyk previously directed Kunsthalle Basel.
Entities
Artists
- Adam Szymczyk
- Marta Minujín
- Otobong Nkanga
- Maria Hassabi
- Angela Melitopoulos
- Vivan Sutter
- Angelo Plessas
- Dan Peterman
- Takis
- Jannis Kounellis
- Yannis Sapountzis
- Andreas Angelidakis
- Joseph Kosuth
- Hans Haacke
- Andréa Bowers
- Bertille Bak
- Khalil Joreige
- Johanna Hadjithomas
- Jani Christou
- Cornelius Cardew
- Alvin Lucier
- Pierre Bal-Blanc
- Marie Cool
- Fabio Balducci
- Maria Lei
- Greta Bratescu
- Elisabeth Wild
- Yves Laloy
- Gustave Courbet
- Arnold Bode
- Cornelia Gurlitt
- Hildebrand Gurlitt
- Sergio Zevallos
- Amar Kawar
- Romuald Karmakar
- Roee Rosen
- Ibrahim Mahama
- Edi Hila
- Nairy Baghramian
- Jane Bowles
- Michel Auder
- Zafos Xagoraris
- Georges-Henri Rivière
Institutions
- Documenta
- EMST (National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens)
- Kunsthalle Basel
- Neue Galerie
- Friedricianum
- Documenta Halle
- Hessisches Landesmuseum
- Ottoneum
- Orangerie
- Palais Bellevue
- Grimmwelt
- Kultur Bahnhof
- Giesshaus
- Universität Kassel
Locations
- Kassel
- Germany
- Athens
- Greece
- Friedrichsplatz
- Kurt-Schumacher Strasse
- Neue Neue Galerie
- Friedricianum
- Documenta Halle
- Neue Galerie
- Ottoneum
- Orangerie
- Palais Bellevue
- Grimmwelt Am Weinberg Terrassen
- Torwache
- Hessisches Landesmuseum
- Kultur Bahnhof
- Giesshaus
- Karlsaue Park
- Odeon of Athens
Sources
- artpress —