documenta is an exhibition of contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau in Kassel. Initially, it was created to bring Germany up to speed with modern art after the cultural darkness of World War II and Nazism. The first documenta featured artists such as Picasso and Kandinsky. Since its inception, every documenta exhibition lasts exactly 100 days of exhibition and is often referred to as the ‘museum of 100 days.’
Adam Szymczyk, a Polish art critic and curator, who began his career in art 20 years ago at the Foksal Gallery Foundation in Warsaw, the man the New York Times deemed a ‘curatorial rock star’ in 2011, is setting the tone of documenta 14 as its artistic director. It was his decision to hold the exhibition in both Kassel, its traditional home, and Athens. It will be held in Athens first from 8th April till 16th July and in Kassel from 10th June till 17th September 2017.
Since his appointment in November 2013, Szymczyk has been building up a team. The curators include Pierre Bal-Blanc, the director of Contemporary Art Center (CAC) Brétigny; Hendrik Folkerts, curator of performance, film, and discursive programs at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; Candice Hopkins, independent curator and writer; Hila Peleg, the founder and artistic director of the Berlin Documentary Forum; Dieter Roelstraete, senior curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, independent curator and biotechnologist; and Monika Szewczyk, visual arts program curator at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago, where she also lectures in the departments of Visual Arts and Art History.
On 8th April 2017, documenta 14 opens its exhibition in Athens. Extending over the city in more than 40 different public institutions, squares, cinemas, university locations, and libraries, over 160 international artists will show works specially prepared for the exhibition.
Polish artists, whose works are being displayed during documenta 14:
Adam Mickiewicz Institute operating under its flagship brand Culture.pl is a partner of documenta 14.
Source: press materials; compiled by NR, 6 Apr 2017