Documenta faces fresh antisemitism allegations over Taring Padi mural
The Indonesian collective Taring Padi has applied black tape to amend their mural 'All Mining Is Dangerous' (2010) at Documenta in Kassel, after the Junges Forum DIG group posted photos alleging it contains antisemitic imagery—specifically a 'caricature of a greedy, long-nosed Jew' wearing a kippah. Taring Padi denies the figure wears a Jewish head covering, stating it is an Indonesian kopiah, but amended the work 'as an aesthetic choice to respond to the immediate context.' This follows earlier controversy this year when the same collective covered and removed another mural over similar claims. Documenta is curated by ruangrupa.
Key facts
- Taring Padi amended their mural 'All Mining Is Dangerous' with black tape.
- The mural is about a gas pipeline explosion in East Java causing mud volcano eruptions.
- Junges Forum DIG group posted photos alleging antisemitic caricature.
- The figure originally wore what looks like a kippah, now covered with black tape.
- Taring Padi says the headwear is an Indonesian kopiah, not a kippah.
- This is the second Taring Padi mural at Documenta to face antisemitism claims.
- Earlier this year, Taring Padi removed another mural over similar allegations.
- Documenta is curated by the collective ruangrupa.
Entities
Artists
- Taring Padi
Institutions
- Documenta
- Junges Forum DIG
- ruangrupa
Locations
- Kassel
- Germany
- East Java
- Indonesia