Artist smuggles artwork onto the documenta

Created: 06/28/2022, 15:15

By: Bastian Ludwig

Set up without permission: The 20 square meter painting "Johanniwunder" is within sight of the documenta artwork "Komposthaufen" in the Karlsaue.

© Bastian Ludwig

The discussion about anti-Semitism at the documenta is in full swing.

The reason is a controversial work of art, which has now been dismantled.

A sculptor now takes a stand.

Kassel - Gernot Ehrsam knows that his action is illegal.

But the sculptor from Erfurt wants to set an example.

He smuggles a picture into the documenta.

In the Karlsaue, the 55-year-old put up a 20 square meter picture on Saturday night in order to position himself in the discussion about the Taring Padi artist group, as reported by hna.de.

With his work he declares his solidarity with the Indonesian artist collective and at the same time wants to speak out against anti-Semitism and fascism.

"I invite everyone in Kassel to expand the work of art," says Ehrsam.

When Ehrsam visited the documenta in Kassel last week, he was amazed by what he saw.

“An ingenious documenta has been built.

Joseph Beuys would have liked them.

The focus is not on the artists, but on social and societal issues.

Works are the result of joint action and do not end up on the art market as a product.” In this respect, the sculptor finds it regrettable that the anti-Semitism debate overshadows everything else.

"The documenta and the artists didn't deserve that."

At work in Bad Hersfeld Abbey Park 2020: Gernot Ehrsam created wooden figures there.

(Archive photo) © Archive photo: Laura Hellwig

Thuringian artist smuggles a work of art into the documenta in Kassel: a sign of more discourse

He thought it was right that Taring Padi's controversial work was dismantled - "they messed up about the cartoons" - but now a productive impetus is needed.

"It's not enough to bang on about it.

We need a discourse.”

Out of a spontaneous impulse, Ehrsam had the idea to set up a work of art not far from the documenta work of art "Compost Heap".

It is titled "St. John's Miracle" which refers to St. John's Day, which was celebrated on Friday.

The Christian context of the title refers to the differences to Indonesian culture.

To person

Gernot Ehrsam (55) studied graphics and sculpture at the Berlin Art Academy.

He comes from the Thuringian Rhön and lives in Erfurt.

He has been a freelance sculptor since 1997.

Among other things, he created a sandstone sculpture for the victims of the school shooting in Erfurt.

He also created figures for the abbey park in Bad Hersfeld.

In 2000 he received a scholarship from the Christoph Merian Foundation in Basel.

2007 to 2011 guest lecturer at the University of Erfurt. 

The sculptor had already painted the middle part of the ten meter long picture some time ago.

It shows the Greek and Germanic gods sitting together at a table.

That's exactly what has to happen now: people have to come together to start the discussion.

For example about Europe's past and anti-Semitism.

His picture should initiate such a process.

“Perhaps my action is also a mistake.

But I'm brave enough to try."

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Yesterday, Monday, the picture of Ehrsam painted on chipboard was still visible.

It is somewhat hidden under an old beech tree between the work of art "Compost Heap" and the Aueteich (large pool).

The Thuringian artist now wants to wait and see whether the documenta reacts to his initiative.

Yesterday, the documenta did not comment on the further handling of the illegally installed work of art in response to a request from the HNA.

(Bastian Ludwig)

His work of art at the documenta Kassel is one of the pictures that are freely accessible and do not cost admission, unlike in museums.