Documenta 16 curator Naomi Beckwith said some artists have turned down invitations to the next edition of the Kassel exhibition, citing Germany’s position on Israel’s war in Gaza and concerns about artistic freedom.
Documenta, held every five years in Kassel, Germany, is considered among the leading recurring exhibitions in contemporary art. The show has endured sustained criticism since its 2022 edition, when politicians’ allegations of antisemitism prompted accusations from some that the claims were being used to suppress pro-Palestinian art.
The fallout has extended into Documenta 16. In 2023, the entire curatorial selection committee resigned. Beckwith, who serves as deputy director and chief curator at the Guggenheim Museum, was appointed to lead Documenta 16 in 2024.
In a wide-ranging interview with the German weekly Die Zeit, Beckwith discussed preparations for the exhibition, whose theme has not yet been announced.
She said a few artists declined to take part. Explaining their reasons, she said some felt they would not be free in Germany to present the work they wished to show, while others objected to Germany’s stance on the Gaza war.
Asked about her own position on the conflict, Beckwith said it was more important to consider how to bridge divisions and restart dialogue. She added that while she recognizes the need for solidarity and support, fixed positions will not lead to progress.
Beckwith also addressed a work from Documenta 15 by the Indonesian collective Taring Padi, which included an antisemitic caricature of a Mossad agent in a large mural. The piece, which drew intense scrutiny, was first covered and then removed.
“I’m sure something like that won’t happen again. We’ve learned a lot since then,” she said, noting that Taring Padi had not understood the imperative to protect the Jewish community in Germany. She added that the curators ruangrupa, whose openness she praised, may also not have been prepared for that context.
Documenta 16 curator on safeguards and policy
Organizers have since introduced measures they say are intended to avert similar controversies, including new language on antisemitism in the event’s code of conduct. The policy draws on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition, which critics say can construe some criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
Die Zeit reported that Beckwith did not sign the code of conduct. She responded that she had not been asked to do so.
Earlier this year, memes and satire have also circulated in the cultural sector, including the widely shared Elizabeth Holmes meme gets an art-world spin, highlighting broader debates over how institutions respond to political and ethical concerns.