Documentary 'Exergue' Captures Documenta 14's Controversial Legacy
The 14-hour documentary 'Exergue' by Dimitris Athiridis details the planning and implementation of Documenta 14, the 2017 exhibition that faced criticism for its management issues. Released in New York in 2023, it was shown in parts at London's ICA. Artistic director Adam Szymczyk envisioned a global exhibition focusing on the Global South, which later expanded to Athens. Athiridis empathetically documents Szymczyk's journey from 2015, navigating bureaucratic challenges and financial crises. The film humorously portrays reactions to significant events like the 2015 Greek banking crisis and Brexit. Notable scenes include Douglas Gordon's emotional struggles and debates surrounding Marta Minujín's 'The Parthenon of Books.' Financial discrepancies were adjusted from €12 million to €5.4 million, impacting the legacy of Documenta 14 on future exhibitions, such as the 2024 Venice Biennale.
Key facts
- Documenta 14 was held in summer 2017 in Kassel and Athens.
- Artistic director Adam Szymczyk proposed the exhibition in 2013.
- Dimitris Athiridis's documentary 'Exergue' runs 14 hours, edited from footage shot from 2015.
- The film premiered in New York in 2023 and screened at London's ICA.
- Financial overruns totaled €5.4 million, disputed in media reports.
- Marta Minujín's 'The Parthenon of Books' was a centerpiece in Kassel.
- The exhibition expanded to Athens for the first time since Documenta's 1955 founding.
- Subsequent Documenta editions in 2022 and 2027 faced continued controversies.
Entities
Artists
- Dimitris Athiridis
- Adam Szymczyk
- Douglas Gordon
- Marta Minujín
- Adriano Pedrosa
- Digby Warde-Aldam
Institutions
- Documenta
- ICA
- Artnet
- Berlin Gallery Weekend
- The Week
- ArtReview
- Fridericianum
Locations
- Kassel
- Germany
- Athens
- Greece
- New York
- United States
- London
- United Kingdom
- Thessaloniki
- Paris
- France
- Turkey