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Artist Steyerl: No more trust »in the ability of the organization to convey and explain complexity«
Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd / picture alliance / dpa
Hito Steyerl is one of the most famous artists in the world.
That's exactly why many were surprised that it was also represented at the current Documenta.
Because this show should actually be one without stars.
However, the artist who lives in Berlin is now withdrawing again. Today she sent a corresponding email to the Documenta team - and also to the general director Sabine Schormann.
In this email she writes: »I am asking the production team to dismantle my work, turn off the projectors, save the plants and remove all signage.«
The reason?
Steyerl accuses the organizers of not taking responsibility for showing anti-Semitic content, as was done at a central location.
She also names a "factual refusal" by those responsible for Documenta to accept offers of mediation.
Likewise, the Documenta refuses a sustained and comprehensive debate.
She, Steyerl, no longer has any confidence “in the organization's ability to convey and explain complexity”.
Steyerl revealed to SPIEGEL that the trigger was Meron Mendel's resignation.
The director of the Anne Frank educational institution had offered his advice to Documenta, but told the management earlier in the week that he was no longer available.
In her letter, however, the artist also points to another problem area beyond the anti-Semitism scandal, namely “unsafe and underpaid working conditions for some of the staff”.
These stand "in stark contrast to the official rhetoric" of this documenta.
She also thanked the production team »from the bottom of my heart«.
With Steyerl's departure, the exhibition reaches a further level of escalation - and the loss of a much-praised work.
For this documenta, the artist cooperated with the Spanish collective Inland.
The result is an entertaining and profound work of art on the subject of the environment, including film and AI-based, animated murals and also plants.
The focus is on the idea of a new currency, the »Cheesecoin«.
The contribution could be seen – at least so far – in the Kassel natural history museum Ottoneum.
Steyerl drew completely different conclusions.
An interview with Julia Stoschek was recently published in SPIEGEL. This prominent art collector is also a shareholder in the Max Brose family company founded by her great-grandfather.
During the Nazi era, the businessman was a "military economics leader" and exploited forced labourers. Experts say that the family's wealth is ultimately due to him.
Steyerl wrote to SPIEGEL today that she bought back a work from Stoschek's collection because of the interview with Julia Stoschek, which was not least about this company's history.
