Organizers of Documenta exhibition try to control discourse :: e-manifesta.org :: experience discussion critic opinion debate


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English: Organizers of Documenta exhibition try to control discourse
Posted by: Admin2 on Saturday, August 17, 2002 - 06:19 PM CET

Art should provide opportunities for critical discussion

By Thomas Wagner
Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung, 16.08.2002

It is a well-known fact in art appreciation that the observer can only notice and evaluate many things about a work of art if he or she knows the artistic and thematic background. Thus it is no wonder that Documenta 11, the 11th quinquennial edition of the world's premier contemporary art exhibition in Kassel, has had more participants than ever before in its official guided tours.

Almost one-quarter of all visitors are being escorted through the exhibition or are being informed in an introductory lecture by specially trained “experts,“ the exhibition reported. External guides may not give guided tours, however. This ban is now a cause of annoyance.

The argument was partly provoked by a guided tour given by the association of the Städel museum in Frankfurt, which was interrupted by the Documenta authorities. Museum director Stephan Mann, who accompanied the group, believes the ban endangers the right to visit the exhibition freely and democratically.

“To what extent are those responsible trying to put a stop to any critical reception?“ asks Mann, and, “To what extent do the organizers really want to offer visitors an official view of young contemporary art?“ Mann took it for granted that museum associations be allowed to bring a familiar guide with them when visiting the Documenta. “The Documenta is a public exhibition. People can go through it with whomever they like.“ In his opinion, the organizers primarily want to earn money with their own guides.

“We do not want to break off discussion,“ emphasized Bernd Leifeld, the general manager of the Documenta. However, it was the clear policy to only permit own guides, and this was written expressly in the brochures, he said. “We trained 120 guides in five-week courses at the university. Every responsible museum person will use these guides,“ he said. The ban had no financial reasons, but rather reasons of content. “Our staff are very well trained and can provide the best information.“

The Städel museum association's guided tour was not an individual case, said Leifeld regretfully. “Every museum association head in the world feels called to present the Documenta,“ he said. Guided tours were given every day by external, self-appointed experts, he said. “We ask these people not to do this and to continue their discussion outside the building.“

Commercial companies who brought entire busloads of visitors to Kassel and organized their own tours were a particular problem for Leifeld, he said. “These groups block the rooms and shout around the place.“

Although it is a fact that there is no standardized rule either in Germany or abroad regarding the problem of “externally guided tours“ in exhibitions and museums, the stance adopted by the Documenta appears to be absurd in many respects.

Leifeld's conclusion that only those people who used the imposed guides were acting “responsibly“ is a misjudgment of the situation. It also sounds derisive; as does the objection that each art association head feels called to present the Documenta.

But one has to doubt the commitment to “cross-disciplinary actions in the global public area“ of anyone who runs four discussion platforms around the world but wishes above all to hear the echo of his own voice on the fifth platform. Art should create opportunities for critical discussion.

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Organizers of Documenta exhibition try to control discourse

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