News
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.
On February 21, 2024, we presented the volume "Exhibition Politics" as a new publication in the publication series. The video recording of the evening event with a keynote speech by Alexia Pooth and a subsequent discussion with the art critic Eduard Beaucamp is now online.
Since March 19, 1999, the city of Kassel has been officially named "documenta City". To mark the occasion, free guided tours of the outdoor documenta artworks in Kassel's urban space are offered.
The arrangement of the letters and words in a row, the regular structure of their repetition, but also the breaking of the grid and the variation characterize Ruth Wolf-Rehfeldt's work. The artist, who was exhibited at documenta 14, died on February 26, 2024.
The painter, filmmaker, installation artist and sculptor Karl Horst Hödicke has died. He was represented at documenta 6 in 1967 with a series of drawings.
The photographer Monika Nikolic died a few days ago. She had been a constant companion of the Kassel documenta since the early 1980s.
The Kassel artist and documenta participant Kazuo Katase died on January 9 at the age of 77. He came to Europe in 1975 and had lived in Kassel since 1976.
We are presenting the studio exhibition "Book-Art: Art-Book" in the reading room of the documenta archiv until the end of February. Curator Emily Denyer will guide visitors through the exhibition on February 8 and 14, 2024 at 4.30 pm.
The American artist Carl Andre died in New York City on January 24 at the age of 88. He was one of the pioneers of minimalism. A classification to conceptual art, however, he has resolutely rejected.
The US-American performance artist Pope.L died on December 23, 2023 at the age of 68. He was known to visitors to documenta 14 (2017) for his acoustic intervention "Whispering Campaign" in Athens and Kassel.
Goethe-Institut and documenta archiv|documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH will be awarding two fellowships to international scholars, artists, and curators taking place from April 2024 to September 2024.
From 30 November to 2 December 2023, the conference "IN | OUT — Canonization Processes of Modern Art and the First documenta" took place at the Fridericianum. The complete video recording of the opening event is now online!
We recently received an extraordinary item from a private donor. Its provenance provides an insight into Arnold Bode's professional environment and the close collaboration between the teaching staff at the Kassel Werkkunstschule in the 1960s.
The American painter and sculptor Ida Applebroog (1929-2023) died on October 21 in her hometown of New York. The important pioneer of feminist art was represented twice with her works at the documenta in Kassel: At documenta 8 (1987) and documenta 13 (2012), which brought about a rediscovery of her work in Germany.
No other German state is home to as many important works and actions by Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) as Hessen, with locations such as Kassel, Frankfurt and Darmstadt. A new publication by the Hessische Kulturstiftung sheds light on Beuys in Hessen.
The Colombian painter and sculptor Fenando Botero has died at the age of 91. He was among the best-known artists in Latin America. At documenta 6 (1977) he was represented with four large-format pencil and charcoal drawings, whose pictorial themes humorously varied art historical role models such as Albrecht Dürer and Diego Velázquez.
The German-Iraqi artist and animal liberation activist Lin May Saeed (1973-2023) died on August 31. As part of documenta 13, she was involved in the installation "The Worldly House" by Danish artist Tue Greenfort.
Our latest studio exhibition in the reading room sheds light on the historical section "Book Art" at documenta 6 (1977) and provides insight into the collection of artists' books in the documenta archiv's special library by presenting a selection of highlights.
Three-time documenta artist Brice Marden (1938-2023) died on August 9. With his non-figurative painting and graphic art he was represented at the documenta in Kassel in 1972, 1977 and 1992.
The Düsseldorf painter and graphic artist Konrad Klapheck died on July 30 at the age of 88. With his idiosyncratic paintings of animated machines, tools and everyday objects, he was represented at the documenta in 1968 and 1977.
"Exhibition Politics. Die documenta und die DDR" will be published in the spring of 2024 in the documenta archiv series. A cooperation with the Hannah Arendt Institute for Totalitarianism Research, Dresden (HAIT).
This year, for the third time, two international fellows of the Goethe-Institut are guests in Kassel: Since June, the documenta archive team has been strengthened by Claudia Cendales Paredes from Bogotá and Rahul Dev Prasad from New Delhi.
In August, our upcoming studio exhibition opens in the Reading Room. The theme:
Book art and artists' books from the documenta archiv.
As a first taste, we will give a small glimpse into the rarities holdings of the art library.
Surprises in the archive: During the indexing of the files on DOCUMENTA IX (1992), an unusual find was made: for over 30 years, a bundle of D-Mark bills, some expired checks, and some small change lay slumbering among the documents. Equally unusual is the original purpose of the money: it was entrance fees for the supporting program "DOCUMENTA BOXING".
The sculptor Inge Mahn has died at the age of 79. She was a master student of Joseph Beuys and was represented at documenta 5 in 1972 at the age of 29 with her works " Schulklasse" and "Glockenturm".
As a perfect complement to the Kramer estate, twelve hand puppets made of papier-mâché and fabric have been added to the documenta archiv's collection: They were created in the second half of the 1970s in Kramer's studio at the Gesamthochschule Kassel.
The Kassel-based photographer and art educator Klaus Baum has died. For decades, his life was closely connected with documenta. He was just as involved in the photographic documentation of the earlier exhibitions as he was in the public mediation: In 1992, he headed the DOCUMENTA IX guide service.
On June 16 and 17, the international workshop "Documenta and Eastern Europe" took place at the documenta archiv. We look back on multi-faceted presentations and a lively discussion.
Petra Kipphoff, the legendary art critic of DIE ZEIT, died on June 1 at the age of 86. For decades she accompanied the exhibition events in Germany and reported as comprehensively as critically and precisely on documenta in Kassel.
The Düsseldorf conceptual artist Hans-Peter Feldmann died on May 26. With consistent idiosyncrasy, Feldmann took Walter Benjamin's reflections on the concept of the original, its aura and the associated problem of the reproducible work of art ad absurdum from the late 1960s onwards. In 1977 he was a participant in documenta 6.
On June 1, the Art Lecture "Proposal List #2" took place in the Rotunda of the Fridericianum. The focus of the cooperation with the Staatstheater Kassel was the 1940-41 work "Leben? oder Theater? Ein Singespiel" by the German-Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon.
Ilya Kabakov, the visionary pioneer of "total installation," has passed away at the age of 89. At documenta IX (1992) he surprised visitors with an unusual contribution: "The Toilet" in the courtyard of the Fridericianum.
On May 26 the curatorially redesigned exhibition display on documenta fifteen will be reopened. We are especially pleased that we could win the Romanian artist Dan Perjovschi to design a wall especially for the new space.
A special addition to the documenta archiv: Heinz Günter Mebusch's "Journey to Planet Ars": Through the purchase of an edition of 235 prints, it has now become possible to further expand the Mebusch collection in the documenta archiv.
The artist, curator, philosopher, media theorist and long-time director of the ZKM | Zentrum für Kunst und Medien Karlsruhe died on 1 March a few days before his 79th birthday. He was featured at documenta 6 in 1977 with a selection of early video and television works. Twenty years later, as part of documenta X (1997), he was one of the speakers at the legendary "100 Days 100 Guests" event series in the documenta Halle.
The filmmaker and film scholar Birgit Hein died in Berlin on 23 February 2023. She was represented at documenta by Harald Szeemann in 1972 as well as by Manfred Schneckenburger in 1977. Under the motto "Film about Film", she also took over the curatorial direction of the "Experimental Film" section at documenta 6.
Goethe-Institut, documenta archiv |documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH, and Kunsthochschule Kassel art school will be awarding two fellowships to international scholars, artists, and curators taking place from June 2023 to November 2023.
The art historian and media theorist Hans Belting died on 10 January 2023 at the age of 87. His research, which spanned epochs and media, set standards for the field of visual history.
The Swiss painter Franz Gertsch died on 21 December at the age of 92. As a central representative of Photorealism in Europe, he achieved international recognition through his participation in documenta 5 in 1972.
The documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH is looking for a full-time media conservator and a full-time paper conservator for the documenta archiv.
On 9 December, our exhibition "nolde/kritik/documenta" opened at the Fridericianum. In the trailer, Birgitta Coers, Astrid Michaelis and Mischa Kuball give an insight into the development and conception of the exhibition project.
Press material for the exhibition "nolde/kritik/documenta" online
The US artist Lee Bontecou died on 8 November at the age of 91. In 1964, she was one of only ten female artists whose works were shown at documenta III. Out of a total of 325 artistic positions, this corresponded to a share of 2.8%.
Pierre Soulages died on 26 October at the age of 102: Born on Christmas Eve 1919, the master of abstraction was an exceptional figure in European painting throughout his life. He was a living monument of French culture and the last remaining participant in the first documenta in 1955.
The Austrian quantum physicist and documenta 13 participant Anton Zeilinger has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 2022.
s a special enrichment for the documenta archiv's art library, more and more catalogues, artists' books, small publications, magazines and other printed matter of the participating lumbung artists reach us since the final phase of documenta fifteen.
A creative image factory within the documenta archiv: our newly founded "Documentation & Production" department was in constant motion throughout the duration of documenta fifteen. Coordinated by Michael Gärtner and Barbara Kiolbassa, the cameras, microphones and tripods rarely stood still.
Two-day hybrid symposium to discuss documenta fifteen on 23 and 24 September 2022. Organised by Framer Framed in cooperation with Trippenhuis, Amsterdam and Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven. Online now.
The conference Let there be lumbung from Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 September 2022 at ruruHaus in Kassel provided a forum for contextualising art practices in terms of the lumbung idea.
The video recordings are now online!
We are pleased to draw your attention to the publications accompanying the permanent exhibition "about documenta" and the retrospective "Arnold Bode Unframed" at the Neue Galerie, which were produced in collaboration with the documenta archiv.
The documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH is looking for a full-time office administrator for the documenta archiv.
We are pleased to announce our latest additions to the documenta archiv: In addition to the multimedia archive of the cyberfeminist artists' group Old Boys Network (OBN), we have received extensive donations of photographs and slides by the photographer Jens Wächter for documenta 7 (1982) and curator Marc Nash, who was part of the curatorial team for Documenta 11 (2002).
„I am for an art that does something other than sit on its ass in a museum… that embroils itself with the everyday crap and still comes out on top...“ (Claes Oldenburg)
Willi Becker, authorized representative of documenta 4 in 1968, died last week in Kassel at the age of 96.
The virtual Platform6 in honor of Okwui Enwezor (1963-2019), the artistic director of Documenta11 (2002), is updated for the second time after its launch last April. As of now, more features and content are ready.
The virtual Platform6 in honor of Okwui Enwezor (1963-2019), the artistic director of Documenta11 (2002), is updated for the second time after its launch last April. As of now, more features and content are ready.
documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH is looking for three full-time archivists (M/F/D) for the new project phase of the "Erschließungsoffensive" (cataloguing project) in the documenta archiv, limited to three years.
documenta has decided, in consultation with various participants, to suspend the series of events planned for May 8, 15, and 22, 2022, We need to talk! Art – Freedom – Solidarity.
documenta has decided, in consultation with various participants, to suspend the series of events planned for May 8, 15, and 22, 2022, We need to talk! Art – Freedom – Solidarity.
The Austrian painter and performance artist Hermann Nitsch (1938 - 2022) has died.
Online conversation series We need to talk! on May 8, 15, and 22, 2022
The Düsseldorf conceptual artist Mischa Kuball is donating five large-format works from his series research_desk_nolde/critique/documenta (2021) to the documenta archiv.
Goethe-Institut, documenta archiv and Kunsthochschule Kassel art school will be awarding two fellowships to international scholars, artists, and curators taking place from August/September 2022 to February/March 2023.
The multiple award-winning director Dore O. (1946 - 2022) has passed away.
Kassel at night last Saturday: Horst H. Baumann's laser is off, but the top of the Fridericianum lights up in the colors of Ukraine.
March 16, 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the day Joseph Beuys planted the first tree of his artwork "7000 Oaks – City Forestation Instead of City Administration (German: 7000 Eichen – Stadtverwaldung statt Stadtverwaltung)" in Kassel in front of the Fridericianum.
"Staff at archives and related institutions are deeply shocked by the attack on Ukraine ordered by Russian President Putin in violation of international law."
On February 19, 2022, Dan Graham passed away in New York at the age of 79.
In deepest sympathy we would like to honour Lawrence Weiner's memory. Our thoughts are with all the companions and confidants of the four-time documenta artist.
It is with great sorrow that we learned about the death of Jimmie Durham. He was two-time participant at the documenta (documenta 9 and 13) and was invited to exhibit at documenta fifteen, too. We say goodbye.
The writer, poet, playwright, and artist died in the mid of November in Paris. Our sincere condolences go to all her friends and companions.
The team at documenta and Museum Fridericianum gGmbH mourns the departure of Pier Luigi Tazzi. The curator and art critic passed away on November 11, 2021 in Montelupo Fiorentino, Italy, at the age of 80.
The virtual Platform6 that was opened in April this year in honor of Okwui Enwezor, artistic director of Documenta11, who died in 2019, is being expanded.
In the year of Beuys' anniversary, the documenta archive presents a comprehensive selection of images from the photographic estate of Dieter Schwerdtle (1952-2009) in the rooms of the Neue Galerie in Kassel. The Kassel-based photographer began his longstanding collaboration with Joseph Beuys and his examination of his work in 1977 during documenta 6 and continued for nine more years.
In memory of Manfred Schneckenburger, art historian and two-time director of documenta, who died in 2019, a monument was inaugurated in the Künstler-Nekropole Kassel. It was designed by the artist and long-time friend of Schneckenburger Ugo Dossi.
On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Joseph Beuys under the name BEUYSLABORKASSEL2021, exhibitions, actions, performances and conferences will take place until the end of the year in honor of one of the most influential contemporary artists and seven-time documenta participant.
"Herr Beuys, für wie groß halten Sie die Popularität, die Sie genießen?" ["Mr. Beuys, how large do you consider the popularity you enjoy?"]
On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Joseph Beuys, representatives of Kassel institutions and Beuys actors invite you to a multifaceted cultural program in the documenta city. Under the name BEUYSLABORKASSEL2021, exhibitions, actions, performances and conferences will take place until the end of the year in honor of one of the most influential contemporary artists and seven-time documenta participant. The official press release of the city of Kassel can be found here.
On April 29, 2021, documenta archiv will launch Platform6, a virtual platform created in honor of Okwui Enwezor.
This dynamic and evolving online project is intended as a place for animated discussion about Documenta11 and the current relevance of its discourses.
This year's Arnold Bode Award goes to the artists' collective "Instituto de Artivismo Hannah Arendt" (INSTAR) and its founder Tania Bruguera.
Sponsored by documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH (hereinafter "documenta gGmbH"), the documenta archiv has been accepted as a member of the Arbeitskreis selbständiger Kultur-Institute e.V. - AsKI (Working Group of Independent Cultural Institutes) at the end of 2020.
documenta archiv new member of AsKI (Arbeitskreis selbständiger Kultur-Institute e.V.)
Preparation of the documenta archiv Holdings for International and Interdisciplinary Research
On October 1, 2020, the documenta archiv will embark upon the comprehensive
cataloguing and preparation of its holdings.
On October 1, 2020, the documenta archiv will embark upon the comprehensive
cataloguing and preparation of its holdings.
The State of Hesse, the City of Kassel, Kassel University with Kunsthochschule Kassel and documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH have appointed the acclaimed sociologist Prof. Dr. Heinz Bude as Founding Director of the documenta Institute.
Art historian Birgitta Coers (born 1970) will be heading up the documenta archiv from October 1, 2020. Following her university career in Marburg and Tübingen, she has specialized in recent years in the physical and digital management of artists’ estates.
Dr. Birgitta Coers takes over as director of the documenta archiv on October 1, 2020.
The Goethe-Institut, the documenta archiv and the Kunsthochschule Kassel (University of the Arts Kassel) /University of Kassel are launching their joint fellowship program for international young scientists and researching artists and curators at the documenta Institute.
New feature available on this webseite: d-movies can be streamed directly from this page!
The documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH is looking for two full-time archivists for the documenta archiv in Kassel to begin work as soon as possible, for a period of five years, to provide in-depth access to the documenta 1 to documenta 14 holdings in the records and papers archive.
The documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH is looking for two full-time archivists (limited to five years) and one full-time archivist (limited to three years) for the documenta archiv in Kassel for the next possible date in order to catalogue the digital photographic and audiovisual holdings and analogue photography (negatives/DIA/paper prints) in the media collection.
The documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH is looking for a graduate or bachelor librarian in library and information management, full-time, limited to four years, to retro-catalogue the library's monographs on artists for the documenta archiv in Kassel.
On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the documenta archiv is going to open its reading room again.
Dr. Nadine Oberste-Hetbleck will assume the post of Director of the documenta archiv as of August 1, 2020.
Dr. Nadine Oberste-Hetbleck will assume the post of Director of the documenta archiv as of August 1, 2020.
It is with great sorrow that we have learnt of the passing of Floris M. Neusüss. He followed an appointment as lecturer for photography at the Kunsthochschule Kassel and dedicated his time there especially to experimental photography.
In the context of coronavirus prevention, the documenta archiv is closed for public use until further notice.
There may also be delays in answering your requests.
We ask for your understanding and wish you all the best!
The team of the documenta archiv
The documenta archiv is pleased to present its new image film to the public.
On the occasion of Joseph Beuys' 100th birthday, the Kassel-based documenta forum e.V. supports the documenta archiv.
The documenta archiv has received as a gift the important legacy of thinker, art mediator, art critic, artist and professor Bazon Brock.
Bazon Brock makes a generous donation of his archive and parts of his collection to the documenta archiv.
Die Direktorin des documenta archivs, Dr. Birgit Jooss, scheidet zu Februar 2020 aus, um sich aus familiären Gründen nach über dreieinhalb Jahren in dieser Position wieder in Richtung ihrer Heimatstadt München zu orientieren.
The documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH is looking for a director (m/w/d) of the documenta archiv as soon as possible.
From January 2020 we will move our long open day from Thursdays to Tuesdays.
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Manfred Schneckenburger, who gave important impulses to world art exhibition documenta in Kassel with twice being involved.
New Goethe-Institut Fellowship for international curators and researchers at the documenta archiv
The Goethe-Institut and the documenta archiv in Kassel have launched a new fellowship program for international curators and researchers.
The first Virtual Exhibition created by the documenta archiv explores the question in which way Bauhaus concepts have inscribed themselves in the documenta idea. It will be available from August 15, 2019 at www.documenta-bauhaus.de.
The artist Hans Haacke receives the Arnold Bode Prize 2019, which is awarded every two years.
Bauhaus and documenta are two globally successful cultural brands that stand for a welcoming, innovative and modern Germany.
The dance was frenetic, animated, clattering, twisted, and lasted a long time - that was the title of dOCUMENTA (13).
It is with great sorrow that we have learnt of the passing of Okwui Enwezor, the artistic director of documenta 11, who took the world art exhibition on a new path with his work here in Kassel.
Nominated unanimously by the International Finding Committee the Supervisory Board appointed ruangrupa, a collective of artists and creatives from Jakarta, Indonesia, with a tenmember core as the artistic direction of documenta 15.
The exhibition "Bauhaus | documenta. Vision and Brand" reflects for the first time the Bauhaus and documenta in comparison. This year’s 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus provides an opportunity to look at the development of both institutions, which have become cultural brands, and to question them critically at the same time
Three additional professorships for the future documenta Institute have now been announced.
The documenta archiv is organising an international conference in the documenta-Halle from 22 - 24 November 2018 in preparation for the future documenta Institut (will be held in English)
The web platform "documenta studies" goes online. It brings together a direct engagement with documenta’s history and present as well as reflections on wider relevant curatorial practices, formats, and institutions.
In a resolution, the Kassel magistrate approves the City of Kassel's share of the building project of the documenta Institute of € 6 million.
With our new red cotton bags, the documenta archiv is always going to be a good companion.
Wir suchen zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine/n Medien-Restaurator/in in Elternzeitvertretung, Vollzeit, befristet bis zum 30.01.2020. Bewerbungsschluss: 16.09.2018
Wir suchen zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine/n Fachangestellte/n für Medien- und Informationsdienste, Fachrichtung Archiv.
Bewerbungsschluss: 26.08.2018
From Autumn 2018 Dr. Sabine Schormann will be general director of the documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH.
The documenta archiv has just received the personal papers of Dirk Schwarze (1942 – 2017), art critic and long standing head of the cultural section of the Kassel daily newspaper HNA.
With the establishment of three new professorships financially supported by the State of Hesse research in the setup of the future documenta Institute will essentially be strengthened.
Wir suchen zum frühestmöglichen Termin eine*n Diplom-Bibliothekar*in bzw. Bachelor Bibliotheks- und Informationsmanagement.
The "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Archive in Nordhessen" organizes a week-long comprehensive program on the subject of "Democracy and civil rights". To mark the nationwide "Day of the Archives", eleven archives - including the documenta archiv - will take part in providing information on exhibitions, films, presentations and guided tours.
.png?w=570)
Museums, libraries and archives with the task to preserve cultural heritage are bound to a democratic educational mission. Due to the legal framework conditions, this mission can only be pursued to a very limited extent within the digital space.
With the establishment of a new reading room for all three departments – records and papers; media collections and art library – the visitors of the documenta archiv will get the opportunity to stay longer to carry out their research.
The new image brochure contains information of the archival collections, research projects as well as general information such as opening hours and offered services.
“Documenta Institute Discourse” invites to think together with international speakers about archives, research and education. This can lead to imaginations about unexpected functions, strategies, and ways of acting for archives, research and education institutions.
The series of events “From the documenta archiv” will be continued. On Sunday, November 5th, 2017 at 5 pm will take place an extraordinary “comic concert” at the Gloria Cinema. The papers of Hans Hillmann are now part of the archive’s collection.
The documenta archiv launches a new exhibition series that takes place in the archive itself.
Wir suchen zum 01.01.2018 eine/n Fachangestellte/n für Medien- und Informationsdienste, Fachrichtung Archiv zur Betreuung des Lesesaalbetriebs und zur Erledigung einfacher archivarischer Aufgaben.
The project “A Cultural Agent for documenta 14” was initiated in Hesse in collaboration with Juliane Gallo in September of 2016. Its goal is to inspire curiosity about documenta 14 among children and adolescents, to strengthen documenta’s collaboration with schools, and provide more information about the history and the importance of the exhibitions since their beginning in 1955.
Prof. Dr. Nora Sternfeld (b. 1976) has been named the new documenta professor at Kunsthochschule Kassel. The Austrian scholar currently holds a professorship at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland.
In October 2016 the documenta archiv opened up a new series of events entitled "From the documenta archiv".
Since August 2016 the team of the documenta archiv creates the series "docArt of the month". Staff members of the archive present selected archival materials, publications or photographs with a short text and illustrations.
The documenta archiv gets a new image with a web presence, logo, and -custom typography developed by the Stuttgart Design Agency L2M3.
The documenta archiv gets a new image with a web presence, logo, and -custom typography developed by the Stuttgart Design Agency L2M3.