Almost two months after the end of Documenta 15, preparations for the next edition, which will take place in 2027, begin. There is one innovation: the members of the selection committee that appoints the artistic direction will this time be determined by the former Documenta directors who are still alive. The SZ learned this from Documenta Managing Director Ferdinand von Saint-André.
These are Rudi Fuchs (Documenta 7, 1982), Catherine David (10, 1997), Roger Buergel (12, 2007), Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev (13, 2012) and Adam Szymczyk (14, 2017). The members of Ruangrupa, artistic directors of this year’s Documenta, were asked but declined, according to von Saint-André. In addition, they are formally still under contract with the Documenta 15.
Until now, there has been no set procedure for filling the selection committee. Its members were usually appointed by the Documenta management in coordination with the city of Kassel and the state of Hesse.
Contrary to what is usual for such bodies, the selection committee for the most recent Documenta did not limit itself to appointing the artistic director of the exhibition. Its members have repeatedly engaged in the debate on how to deal with anti-Semitic works, most recently with a public statement on September 15. Their statements were more implacable and radical than those of the Ruangrupa representatives.