Documenta

About Documenta

Documenta is one of the world's most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions, held every five years in Kassel, Germany, for 100 days, earning it the nickname "The Museum of 100 Days." Founded by artist Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Federal Horticultural Show, the first edition attracted over 130,000 visitors and was designed to rehabilitate Germany's relationship with modern art after the Nazi era's "Degenerate Art" campaign. Originally focused on showing works that had been condemned as "Entartete Kunst" during the Nazi period - including Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, and abstract art from the 1920s-1930s - Documenta evolved to become a seismograph of contemporary global art movements. The exhibition initially covered European works but expanded to include artists from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Since 1972, each edition has been led by different artistic directors, with notable curators including Harald Szeemann, Okwui Enwezor (first non-European director for Documenta11), and ruangrupa (Indonesian collective for Documenta 15 in 2022). Documenta is held across multiple venues in Kassel, centered around the Museum Fridericianum ruins, and has grown from a local exhibition to an international cultural phenomenon attracting over 750,000 visitors. With budgets reaching €42 million, it has become a major force in setting global artistic trends and discussions. The exhibition is funded jointly by the City of Kassel, State of Hesse, German Cultural Foundation, sponsors, and ticket sales. Documenta has established Kassel as a major art destination and continues to influence contemporary art discourse worldwide through its innovative curatorial approaches and commitment to presenting cutting-edge artistic practices.