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From April 26 to October 6, the Neues Museum Nürnberg is showing the exhibition "Memory Movers" in cooperation with the Institut für Moderne Kunst Nürnberg: The artist duo Böhler & Orendt address the topic of preserving memory in archives in an immersive multimedia environment. The documenta archiv is one of 50 archives participating with loans from its own holdings.

P r o j e c t s
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Projects & Exhibitions

Current

Exhibition
22.11.2019–23.11.2025
"about: documenta"

Until November 2025, the permanent exhibition "about: documenta" on the upper floor of the Neue Galerie provides multifaceted insights into almost 70 years of exhibition history: The special feature here is the linking of direct viewing of original documenta artworks with documentary and film material and the reference to the staging strategies of the respective documenta.

Archive

Exhibition
9.12.2022–19.2.2023
nolde / kritik / documenta - a project by documenta archiv, Draiflessen Collection, Nolde Foundation Seebüll and Mischa Kuball

Emil Nolde (1867-1956) is one of the most famous artists of European avant-garde. His current perception is shaped by historical mythmaking and its deconstruction. The Düsseldorf conceptual artist Mischa Kuball (* 1959), supported by the Nolde Stiftung Seebüll, set out to trace this ambivalent figure.

Description and Cataloging
1.11.2021–31.12.2022
"Die documenta-Fotografie von Dieter Schwerdtle": WissensWandel. Digitalprogramm für Bibliotheken und Archive innerhalb von Neustart Kultur

Im Jahr 2013 hat das documenta archiv die documenta-Fotosammlung des Kasseler Fotografen Dieter Schwerdtle (1952–2009) erworben. Durch die Förderung „WissensWandel. Digitalprogramm für Bibliotheken und Archive innerhalb von Neustart Kultur“ des dbv wurde dem documenta archiv ermöglicht, einen zentralen Teil des "Nachlass Schwerdtle" zu digitalisieren, jede Bildeinheit mit wissenschaftlich fundierten Metadaten zu beschreiben und nach konservatorischen Gesichtspunkten umzubetten.

Exhibition
2.6.–9.10.2022
ARNOLD BODE UNFRAMED

"Arnold Bode Unframed. Paintings and Prints by the documenta Founder": The cooperation project of the Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel (MHK), the documenta archive, Galerie Rasch and the Kunsthochschule Kassel brings together for the first time a representative selection of works from public and private collections in a comprehensive retrospective.

Documentation
2021–2023
Platform6

The documenta archiv is pleased to present the virtual Platform6 in honour of Okwui Enwezor (1963-2019).
Platform6 is a constantly growing online project and a place for lively debates about documenta11 and its ideas. It brings together historical materials from the documenta archive and current contributions by artists, curators and Enwezor's companions, who deal with the themes of solidarity, globalisation and collectivity.

 

Exhibition
15.10.2021–6.1.2022
Imaging Beuys. Photography by Dieter Schwerdtle

On the occasion of the Beuys anniversary, the documenta archiv, as a guest of the Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, is curating a studio exhibition on the photographer Dieter Schwerdtle (1952-2009) in the rooms of the Neue Galerie.

Exhibition
15.8.2019
How much Bauhaus is in documenta? Seeking traces

The first Virtual Exhibition created by the documenta archiv explored the question in which way Bauhaus concepts have inscribed themselves in the documenta idea.

 

Description and Cataloging
1.4.2018–31.3.2021
Processing and Research of the Work of the Artists' Collective "Van Gogh TV"

In the supporting programme of documenta 9, 1992, the media art collective Van Gogh TV presented its project "Piazza Virtuale". The group was formed in the mid-1980s and consisted of American, German and Austrian media and performance artists and technicians.

Exhibition
1.4.2018–10.11.2019
bauhaus | documenta

Bauhaus and documenta are two globally successful cultural brands, representing a modern Germany that is both cosmopolitan and innovative.

Documentation
2017
Video Documentation of documenta 14

The performances and public events of documenta 14 in Athens and Kassel were cinematically documented by the documenta archiv in close consultation with the team of documenta 14.

Description and Cataloging
2015–2017
Cataloging of the Photographic Collection Dieter Schwerdtle

The in 2013 acquired photographic collection by Dieter Schwerdtle (1952-2009) could already begin in 2015, thanks to a generous donation from “Impulse für Kassel-Stiftung”.

Description and Cataloging
2015–2016
Cataloging of the Personal Papers Hans Hillmann

The cataloging of the personal papers of the graphic artist Hans Hillmann (1925-2014) was done after its integration in the documenta archiv in 2015 with the generous support from the artist’s wife. The listing in the finding aids follow the order and use the original titles as provided by Hillmann himself. Records are listed in a specially designed access database.

2013–2015
Oral Histories »My documenta«

The contemporary witness project „My documenta“ was launched in 2013 in cooperation with broadcasting stations such as Hessian Broadcasting Corporation (HR), Free Radio Kassel and Open Chanel Kassel (OK).

Description and Cataloging
2012–2015
Retrospective Cataloging in the Art Library

A retrospective cataloging project of the art library holdings was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) from 2012 to 2015. Approximately 25.000 volumes were subsequently made available for online research.

Description and Cataloging
2006–2015
Image and Press Database Mediencluster

In 2004 the Rotary Club Kassel funded a pilot project for the cataloging and digitization of extensive photographic materials of documenta exhibitions 1 to 3, which were photographed by the Kasseler photographer Günther Becker (1920-2003) commissioned by Arnold Bode (1900-1977).

Description and Cataloging
2009–2011
Audio- and Video Database mediaartbase.de

Within “KUR – Program for conservation and restoring of mobile archival holding” initiated by the Federal Cultural Foundation and the Cultural Foundation of German States and thanks to the additional donations (also from the documenta forum) the documenta archiv was able to support and partake in the project “mediaartbase.de”.

Description and Cataloging
2001
Vektor

On occasion of its 40th anniversary the documenta archiv participated in the research project “Vektor”, on databases and contemporary art, as part of the European Union sponsored program “Culture 2000“.