Germany’s antisemitism commissioner has voiced grave concerns with the Documenta art exhibition over antisemitims claims.
Felix Klein, the federal commissioner on combating antisemitism, referred to the manner in which Documenta, a contemporary art show that takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany, handled the allegations as “devastating,” the Augsburger-allgemeine news site reported.
“It is completely incomprehensible that the offers of support from the state of Hesse and the federal government to change the structures, especially with regard to the international effects, were rejected,” Klein said.
He added that Documenta’s reaction to the controversy demonstrated “a lack of respect for the German Bundestag that none of the responsible persons appeared before the culture committee and replied the legitimate questions of the parliamentarians.”
This year’s festival faced multiple claims of antisemitism by some of the exhibition’s artists, including an incident on June 18 in which Indonesian art collective Taring Padi unveiled art which featured alleged antisemitic symbolism and stereotypes.