Documenta 15 is not a show built specifically for photos. There are interesting art objects embedded in the many, many venues throughout Kassel, but they definitely don’t set the tone. Instead, this is a show of films, archives, educational materials, and public programs.
During the press preview, many of the various artists and artist groups were still busy working on their various installations. Many said they saw the idea of a 100 Day Show as an invitation to explore process ideas.
Documenta 15 is therefore a show that is experienced very differently depending on when and where you enter it. That said, below are some images to give you a sense of how the show felt on its opening days.
Work by Taring Padi on the facade of the C&A department store. Photo by Ben Davis.
In front of the Documenta Welcome Center in the ruruHaus. Photo by Ben Davis.
Alice Court, We are the people too (2022). Photo by Ben Davis.
ZK/U – Center for Art and Urbanism, Beeholder – Beecoin – BeeDAO (2018-2022) in the ruru house. Photo by Ben Davis.
An installation by Dan Perjovschi on the facade of the Fridericianum at the Documenta. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation of archives, documentation and more by the Gudskul collective in the Fridericianum. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation of texts in Gudskuls Gudspace (2022). Photo by Ben Davis.
Works from the series “Out of Egypt” by Malgorzata Mirga-Tas can be seen at the Fridericianum. Photo by Ben Davis.
The Film Commune of Rojava, Darên Bi Tenê (Lonely Trees); Pargin project to document the musical heritage of Rojava (2018) in the Fridericianum. Photo by Ben Davis.
Damian le Bas, Back to the Future! Safe European Home 1938 (2013). Photo by Ben Davis.
the black archive, Black Past and Present: Interwoven Stories of Solidarity (2022) in the Fridericianum. Photo by Ben Davis.
Art Center Waza, Verbeek Collection – Mwewe (2022). Photo by Ben Davis.
Richard Bell, message in the tent (2013–ongoing) on Friedrichsplatz. Photo by Ben Davis.
Works by the Taring Padi collective. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation by INLAND in the Natural History Museum in the Ottoneum. Photo by Ben Davis.
Visitors observe Hito Steyerl, animal spirits (2022) in the Natural History Museum in the Ottoneum. Photo by Ben Davis.
The front of the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation by Wajukuu Art Project in the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation by INSTAR (Instituto de Artivismo Hannah Arendt) in the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
replica of the project Curators, go home!!! by Sandra Ceballos in the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation by Britto Arts Trust in the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
Skateboarders at Baan Noorg Collaborative Arts and Culture, Churning Milk Mini Ramp (2022) in the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
Lumbung Press, a jointly managed offset printing company, started as part of the Documenta in the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
Film poster in front of the screening room for Wakaliga Uganda in the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
Information about the web series by Hamja Ahsan Theological Positions on Fried Chicken in the Documenta Hall. Photo by Ben Davis.
Graphics of Black Quantum Futures in an underpass. Photo by Ben Davis.
Black Quantum Futures, Oral Futures Booth – Temporal confessional, black grandmother clock (2022) is located in an underpass. Photo by Ben Davis.
Works by Agus Nur Amal PMTOH at Grimmwelt Kassel. Photo by Ben Davis.
Works by Erick Beltrán at the Museum of Sepulchral Culture. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation by MADEYOULOOK in the Hotel Hessenland. Photo by Ben Davis.
Safdar Ahmed, border fence (2022) in the Stadtmuseum Kassel. Photo by Ben Davis.
Drawing by Dan Perjovski at Rainer-Dierichs-Platz. Photo by Ben Davis.
A bronze turtle skull that belonged to artist Jimmie Durham. Photo by Ben Davis.
Community garden by Arts Collaboratory in the Trafohaus. Photo by Ben Davis.
Community Garden by Nhà Sàn Collective at WH22. Photo by Ben Davis.
A Moroccan Film Library in collaboration with AWAL and Archives Bouanani Collective at WH22. Photo by Ben Davis.
Visitors look at blue curry, leisure aesthetics (2022) at WH22. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation of the group The Question of Funding at WH22. Photo by Ben Davis.
muhammad abuse, Thrones and Flowers I (2016) at WH22. Photo by Ben Davis.
Rest ramp at Hafenstrasse 76. Photo by Ben Davis.
A group of performers post in the Camp Workspace, a project by Camp Notes on Education. Photo by Ben Davis.
Hanging up banners of the *foundationClass collective at Hafenstrasse 76. Photo by Ben Davis.
Fadi Aljabour, Breathe into your guts I (2017) at Hafenstrasse 76. Photo by Ben Davis.
Exhibition of comic panels by Nino Bulling at Hafenstrasse 76. Photo by Ben Davis.
camp notes on education, CAMP room (2022) at Hafenstrasse 76. Photo by Ben Davis.
Fehra’s publishing practice, Borrowed Faces at Hafenstrasse 76. Photo by Ben Davis.
Works by Jumana Emil Abboud at Hafenstrasse 76. Photo by Ben Davis.
Graphics from the Composting Knowledge project at Hafenstrasse 76. Photo by Ben Davis.
Serigrafistas Queer, Rancho Cuis (Cuis Ranch) (2022) at Sandershaus/Haferkakaofabrik. Photo by Ben Davis.
Lumbung Kiosk, a functional community shop, in operation in the Hübner area. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation by the Festival sur le Niger foundation in the Hübner area. Photo by Ben Davis.
Yaya Coulibaly, The Doll Wall (2022) in the Hübner area. Photo by Ben Davis.
Jatiwangi Art Factory, Cosmic Studio (2021-ongoing) on the Hübner site. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation of the Ghetto Biennale in the Church of St. Kunigundus, a sculpture by Vivian Chan in collaboration with André Eugène and Leah Gordon hangs from the ceiling. Photo by Ben Davis.
Two works from the series “The Black President” by Edouard Duval-Carrié in the Church of St. Cuneundus. Photo by Ben Davis.
Entrance to the exhibition of the Taring Padi collective in the Hallenbad Ost. Photo by Ben Davis.
Installation of artworks by Taring Padi at Hallenbad East. Photo by Ben Davis.
Cinema Caravan and Takashi Kuribayashi, YATAI TRIP PROJECT – way to the documenta (2021-2022) in Karlswiese (Karlsaue). Photo by Ben Davis.
Cao Minghao & Chen Jianjun, Water System Refuge #3 (2022). Photo by Ben Davis.
Cao Minghao & Chen Jianjun, The Ecology of Sands and Black Beach (2022). Photo by Ben Davis.
The Nest Collective, Return to Sender (2022) in Karlswiese (Karlsaue). Photo by Ben Davis.
video in the nest collective, Return to sender (2022) on the Karlswiese (Karlsaue). Photo by Ben Davis.
The official Documenta 15 belt pouch is sold in the Documenta souvenir shop. Photo by Ben Davis.
Poster by Cem A. created as part of the Lumbung Harvest project featuring artworks responding to discussions in the exhibition. Photo by Ben Davis.
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