Documenta: Curatorial collective Ruangrupa admit mistakes after anti

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Iswanto Hartono from the Ruangrupa curatorial collective carries cardboard figures that stood in front of the controversial large banner.

Photo:

Uwe Zucchi / dpa

In the anti-Semitism discussion surrounding the Documenta in Kassel, this year's curators have spoken out for the first time since the dismantling of a controversial work.

In a statement published on the art exhibition's homepage, the Ruangrupa collective apologized for "the disappointment, shame, frustration, betrayal and shock this stereotype has caused to the viewers and the entire team that worked hard with us to to make documenta fifteen a reality.

There had been allegations of anti-Semitism against Ruangrupa for months.

Recently, a work called "People's Justice" by the Indonesian artist collective Taring Padi caused outrage, many saw it as anti-Semitic imagery.

Those responsible for the Documenta initially decided to cover the work with black panels of fabric.

It was completely dismantled on Tuesday evening.

"The truth is that we collectively failed to recognize the character in the work who evokes classic stereotypes of anti-Semitism," Ruangrupa writes.

"We admit that this was our fault."

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