In a bold move, DOCUMENTA will be under the artistic direction of a collective for the first time in the history of this emblematic arts event, held every five years in Kassel.
Ruangrupa was founded in 2000 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This will not be the ten-woman, ten-man art collective’s first time on the international stage. They took part in Biennales in Gwangju (2002 and 2018), Istanbul (2005) and Singapore (2011), and in the Brisbane (2012) and Aïchi (2016) Triennales. Ruangrupa also curated the 2016 edition of the renowned Sonsbeek public art exhibition in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
They will also be the first Asian curators of the event, marking another first for DOCUMENTA. With the exception of DOCUMENTA 11, directed by Nigerian curator Okwui Enwezor, the exhibition’s directors have always been from Europe or the United States.
Farid Rakun and Ade Darmawan, the two Ruangrupa members representing the collective when the announcement was made in Kassel, say they envision an art and culture platform that will have an impact beyond the 100 days of DOCUMENTA 15. Their curatorial approach involves different community-based models of resource usage.“DOCUMENTA began in 1955 in an effort to heal wounds left by the war. DOCUMENTA 15 could focus on today’s wounds, especially those rooted in colonialism, capitalism or patriarchal structures, and confront them with partnership-based models that enable people to have a different view of the world.”
Philippe Pirotte, Director of the Städelschule and Portikus in Frankfurt and member of the selection committee, said: “We selected Ruangrupa for their demonstrated ability to involve diverse communities, and not just artistic audiences, and to promote the engagement and participation of local populations. Their curatorial approach is based on an international network of local, community-based arts organisations.”
We are very much looking forward to meeting the collective to discuss our renewed and active participation, again based on shared values. See you in Kassel from 18 June to 25 September 2022!
Photo by: Ruangrupa / Gudskul/ Jin Panji
