In a shocking turn of events, the entire selection committee for Documenta has resigned, causing a crisis for the prestigious art event. The resignation came on Thursday, November 16, as the remaining four members – Simon Njami, Gong Yan, Kathrin Rhomberg, and María Inés Rodríguez – issued a joint statement expressing their belief that the current circumstances in Germany do not allow for an open exchange of ideas and the development of complex artistic approaches that Documenta artists and curators deserve.
This mass resignation followed the departure of committee member Ranjit Hoskote on November 12, prompted by pressure from event administrators who urged him to distance himself from a 2019 petition supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Another committee member, Israeli artist Bracha Lichtenberg Ettinger, resigned earlier in the month due to travel constraints, further complicating the selection process.
The current situation raises doubts about the timely appointment of a director for Documenta 16, with the next edition scheduled for 2027. The unexpected resignations and the controversy surrounding Hoskote’s departure have cast a shadow over the future of this renowned art event.
In a separate development, Lisson Gallery has decided to postpone a show by Ai Wei Wei in London. This decision came after the artist’s social media posts regarding US military aid for Israel. Ai Wei Wei, known for his outspoken views, stated that the postponement was to avoid further disputes and ensure his well-being. However, he criticized the move as a form of “soft violence” aimed at stifling voices.
The Israel-Hamas conflict also reverberated in art institutions, with the executive director of the Frick Pittsburgh issuing an apology for postponing an upcoming show of Islamic art. Elizabeth Barker clarified that her earlier words had given the wrong impression, stating, “My words gave the offensive and utterly wrong impression that I equated Islam with terrorism.”
Meanwhile, in Germany, the Museum Folkwang in Essen has severed ties with curator Anaïs Duplan for a group show opening later this month. The museum cited Duplan’s social media posts supporting the BDS movement as the reason for ending the collaboration.
In a striking case, Russian artist Aleksandra Skochilenko has been sentenced to seven years in a penal colony for replacing price tags in a St Petersburg supermarket with messages criticizing the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Skochilenko, one of the first to be prosecuted under the newly created offense of ‘discrediting the Russian army,’ pleaded guilty in her closing statement, questioning the severity of the punishment for a seemingly minor act.
The art world also mourns the passing of two influential figures. Renowned artist Joe Tilson, whose work spanned Pop art and later embraced themes of politics and Mediterranean culture, died at the age of 95. Additionally, art historian B.N. Goswamy, an expert on Indian miniature painting, passed away at 90. Goswamy’s significant contributions to the understanding of Indian art and his numerous publications, including “The Spirit of Indian Painting,” leave a lasting legacy.
In the realm of climate protests, Extinction Rebellion activists disrupted a sale of Impressionist and modern works at Christie’s New York on November 11. Protesters temporarily halted the bidding, emphasizing their message with shouts like ‘No art on a dead planet’ and ‘End fossil fuels now.’ On November 15, a Declare Emergency activist painted the words ‘Honor Them’ on a wall of the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial, linking climate action to honoring Black soldiers who fought in the Civil War.
Lastly, on November 17, the French high court upheld the indictment of the Louvre’s former president, Jean-Luc Martinez, for alleged money laundering and organized fraud related to the sale of Egyptian antiquities to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The court dropped charges against curator Jean-François Charnier due to procedural errors in his arrest in July 2022, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the trafficking of Egyptian antiquities.
The art world is facing a tumultuous week, marked by resignations, controversies, and the loss of influential figures, underscoring the complex intersections between art, politics, and social issues.