In yet another strange development in the ongoing saga of Documenta 14, Artnet News is reporting that the far-right AfD faction of Kassel’s city council is suing Documenta’s management team for “financial irregularities.” This seems to be the continuation of a vendetta that Kassel’s AfD has held again the exhibition; in September, members of the party denounced Documenta 14 using language eerily similar to that used by the Nazi’s to denounce “degenerate art.” Read an excerpt from the article below for details:
The suit targets artistic director Adam Szymczyk, CEO Annette Kulenkampff, former board chairman and mayor Christian Geselle, as well as current board chairman and sitting mayor Bertram Hilgen.
Speaking to HNA, the AfD minority leader Michael Werl said documenta’s management team had to be held accountable for numerous irregularities. “Dubious cash transactions, a huge deficit of at least €5.4 million, disproportionate demands of the artistic director, a sloppy board, as well as inadequate separation of the two venues of Kassel and Athens all require an independent investigation by the state prosecutor,” he said. The suit also encompasses flights and the transport of cash to Athens.
Ahead of the general elections in Germany in late September, the AfD in Kassel tried to instrumentalize the important international exhibition for political purposes, calling the American-Nigerian artist Olu Oguibea’s work for documenta 14 “ideologically polarizing, deformed art.” The venomous remark recalls the Nazis’ use of the term “degenerate art.”
Image of Documenta 14 in Kassel via Artnet News.