New claims exacerbated the anti-Semitism discussion surrounding Documenta fifteen, which had been smoldering for months, shortly after the show’s debut. Meron Mendel, the director of the Anne Frank Educational Institution, requested that a contribution by the Indonesian artist collective Taring Padi be removed from the world art exhibition in Kassel due to anti-Semitic overtones.
On the large-scale banner on Friedrichsplatz, there is a soldier with a pig’s face, among other things. He is dressed in a scarf with a Star of David on it and a Mossad helmet. The name of Israel’s foreign intelligence service is Mossad. On Monday, Mendel told the German Press Agency, “This is a blatant border crossing.” “There is no room for interpretation in these photographs.” This is unmistakably anti-Semitic incitement.”
He requested that the work be covered or, at the very least, removed right away. The second stage is to have a discussion about what went wrong and where the documenta’s blind spots are.
Ruangrupa, an Indonesian curator collective, has long been chastised.
An alliance in Kassel accused the Indonesian curator collective Ruangrupa of collaborating with groups that supported the cultural boycott of Israel or were anti-Semitic a few months ago. The charges were categorically dismissed by Ruangrupa and the Documenta.
Later, Germany’s Central Council of Jews became engaged. A round of talks aimed to de-escalate tensions has been canceled.
Mendel had previously supported the Documenta in the debate. He said he didn’t see any anti-Semitism, but he did lament the paucity of Jewish musicians from Israel taking part. On Monday, Mendel reiterated that the exhibition as a whole should not be labeled anti-Semitic.
“You have to be able to tell the difference.” Something had to have gone horribly wrong. Something like that, on the other hand, should not occur.” The curators and management of documenta fifteen are now in charge of making sure this happens.
The Hessian Minister of Art is looking for an answer as quickly as feasible.
Angela Dorn (Greens), Hessian Minister of Art, wants to investigate the clues. On Monday in Wiesbaden, Dorn remarked, “My personal view is that there is anti-Semitic imagery here.”
On Friedrichsplatz, the contentious huge painting by the Indonesian artist collaboration Taring Padi.
Photo credit: dpa/Uwe Zucchi
She called Documenta Director General Sabine Schormann with the goal of “clarifying matters as soon as possible, potentially with the assistance of anti-Semitism experts from academia.”
“As shareholders of documenta gGmbH, we, as shareholders of documenta gGmbH, will soon deal with the outcomes in a special meeting,” the minister stated.
“At the Documenta, I’ve always stated that anti-Semitic animosity and anti-Semitism should not be aired,” Dorn explains. This is something that both Documenta and Ruangrupa have repeatedly underlined.
Claudia Roth: “This is anti-Semitic imagery in my opinion.”
Claudia Roth, Minister of State for Culture, also found unambiguous words: “In my opinion, this is anti-Semitic imagery,” she remarked. “I’ll repeat it again: human dignity, anti-Semitism protection, as well as racism and any type of misanthropy protection, are the bedrock of our cohabitation, and this is where artistic freedom finds its limitations.”
Documenta must immediately inform curators and artists of this and take “the required conclusions.”
On Friedrichsplatz, a portion of the contentious huge painting by the Indonesian artist collective Taring Padi.
Photo credit: dpa/Uwe Zucchi
Josef Schuster, the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, was likewise angry on Monday. Many people have chastised the Council for its reservations over this year’s Documenta. He was even accused of racism in a roundabout way. “However, it makes no difference where anti-Semitic artists originate from,” Schuster added.
Where artistic freedom ends and misanthropy begins is where misanthropy begins.
This red line was crossed at Documenta,” he said, demanding that those involved live up to their social responsibilities and draw the required conclusions.
There are elements that harken back to “Goebbels’ propaganda.”
The documenta was also harshly attacked by the Israeli embassy. Some of the displays’ features are evocative of “Goebbels and his henchmen’s propaganda during dark periods of German history.” According to a press statement, “all the red lines have not only been crossed, but they have been destroyed.”
The artworks were to be removed from the show as soon as possible, according to the embassy. “They are an expression of old-style anti-Semitism and have nothing to do with freedom of expression.”
Documenta fifteen was even called off by the AfD in the Hessian state legislature. The anti-Semitic artwork must be withdrawn immediately, and Schormann must quit, according to Frank Grobe, the AfD’s cultural policy spokesman. “She must take responsibility for the fact that anti-Semitic images are displayed in Germany, of all places, at the world’s most prominent contemporary art exhibition.”
At the opening, Frank-Walter Steinmeier slammed the Documenta.
In the midst of the dispute over the Documenta 15th edition, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had previously stressed the limits of artistic freedom at the show’s opening on Saturday. It is a crucial cornerstone of democratic society, but it is not without limitations.
“Art may be offensive, and it should elicit discussion.” It is acceptable to criticize Israeli politics. “However, when criticism of Israel becomes a debate about its existence, the line has been crossed,” he had stated.
Along with the Venice Biennale, the Documenta, which has been held in Kassel since 1955, is considered the world’s most important exhibition of contemporary art. It only happens once every five years. The exhibition will be on display through September 25th. (KNA, dpa)