After the experiences with works of art interpreted as anti-Semitic at the documenta in Kassel, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth wants to explore possibilities for state action.
“I would like clarification on the questions: What does freedom of art actually mean? where are the limits What is curatorial responsibility? Where does the state have to stay out of it? So where is the limit of government interference? Where is it clearly regulated in our democracy?” Roth told the German Press Agency in Berlin.
An expert report is currently being evaluated in your house. The Green politician wants to draw possible consequences on this basis. “The documenta is such an important exhibition,” said Roth.
“It’s really unfortunate that everything that was shown in Kassel and was also important was overshadowed by this unacceptable transgression of anti-Semitic visual language.” That then shaped the entire image of the documenta.
“As a consequence, we also have a debate about the structure of the documenta. If the federal government should be there in the future, then I’ll offer that,” said Roth. She turned to the chairman of the supervisory board and the state government, held talks and made offers. “Further financial participation by the federal government also requires a substantive one. There must then also be some form of opportunity to have a say. We’re in the process of sorting that out.”
She wanted to make it clear what importance artistic freedom has, but also where the limits are, “namely where Article One of our Basic Law is affected, in the case of anti-Semitism, racism and anti-Gypsyism”.
She would like a trusting discussion again on the basis that anti-Semitism in Indonesia or Germany is absolutely unacceptable. “The difference is that Auschwitz was invented in Germany, which means a special challenge, a special responsibility,” said Roth. “There is a really deep, sad veil that lies over this documenta and over the fears and injuries that have arisen among Jews and the horror among all of us.”
Regarding the concept of the curating collective Ruangrupa from Indonesia, Roth said: “In the future, there must no longer be a kind of coordinated irresponsibility where suddenly nobody is responsible anymore. A curatorial concept cannot be not to curate. Especially when confronted with culture from a completely different region of the world, curatorial responsibility is required that does not ignore the place where the exhibition is taking place.”
It must be possible that art does not please. “You don’t have to like it,” said Roth, “but the limit is where it crosses artistic freedom with anti-Semitism.” (dpa)
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