Documenta Unveils its 2027 Event’s Curator – Naomi Beckwith
Naomi Beckwith became the first Black woman to curate the Quinquennial exhibition, Documenta 16 since its inception in 1995. She is also the second American-born curator, following Italian-American curator Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev in 2012; to oversee the event taking place throughout the city.
The 2027 edition of Documenta 16 will be held in Kassel, Germany. The institution intends to foster dialogue through art. Andreas Hoffman, the managing director of Documenta and Museum Fridericianum, announced her appointment, during a press conference held on Wednesday, December 18.
Naomi Beckwith’s Selection
She was chosen unanimously from a shortlist of five candidates by a committee that was formed last summer, following the resignation of the initial committee in 2023 amidst accusations of antisemitism related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In May, Documenta’s supervisory board revealed plans to establish a new code of conduct for its artistic director that prioritizes respect for human dignity—“vital for maintaining artistic freedom that protects against discrimination,” according to chair Sven Schoeller. He adds, “Our code of conduct is based on respect for human dignity, which itself is based on the necessary guarantee of artistic freedom and at the same time protects us from discrimination against human beings.”
Documenta 17’s Selection Committee Members
Beckwith was chosen by a six-person selection committee, which included the following figures.
- Yilmaz Dziewior; Director, Museum Ludwig, Cologne
- Sergio Edelsztein; Freelance curator; Founder, Center for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv
- N‘Goné Fall; Independent curator; Academic, Former general commissioner, Africa2020 Season in France
- Gridthiya Gaweewong; Art director, Jim Thompson Art Center, Bangkok; Co-director, 2023 Thailand Biennale
- Mami Kataoka; Director, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
- Yasmil Raymond; Independent curator; Former director, Portikus and Rector of Städelschule.
Naomi Beckwith on Documenta 16’s Curation
Beckwith speaks of this decision as “ an honour of a lifetime,” and “a shock, a surprise, but also a great joy.” She holds Documenta in high regard, and says, “Documenta is an institution that belongs to the entire world. As much as it belongs to Kassel, as well as an institution that is in perpetual dialogue with history as much as it is a barometer of art and culture in the immediate present,”
On her approach and responsibilities, she exclaimed, “I am humbled by the breadth of this responsibility and equally excited to share my research and ideas with this storied and generous institution: one that affords space and time for focus, deep study, exploration, experimentation, and awakenings for artists, curators, and audiences alike.”
Naomi Beckwith on Integrating the German Context
She further adds, “I have looked at every Documenta since Documenta 12. I was obsessed with the concept of Documenta from the moment I was introduced to it. There is no other project in the world that allows such deep thought, deep research, and close work with artists. I am here as someone eager to learn about Kassel, eager to work with the team, eager to think about global practices from a city that is quite global in and of itself.”
Beckwith told the New York Times, about the difference in her curatorial approach, chiming in on the controversies before her appointment, “Every exhibition is a deep collaborative practice for me with artists, so there are no surprises.”
The Controversy that Hit Documenta
Documenta, which was established in the wake of World War II and receives up to €42.2 million in federal support, came under scrutiny just days after its opening in June 2022. The exhibition was hit with accusations of antisemitism, particularly concerning a prominent banner created by the Indonesian collective Taring Padi. The artwork, which criticized Indonesia’s oppressive regime, included caricatures that many viewed as antisemitic. This resulted in the removal of the piece and led to a backlash against the directorial team and the artist collective Ruangrupa.
About Naomi Beckwith
Since 2021, Naomi Beckwith has served as the deputy director and chief curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, in New York. She has also held various curatorial positions at the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia; and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. During her time at the MCA, her exhibitions and publications addressed the influence of identity and the significance of Black culture on various practices.
At present, she is curating a retrospective of Rashid Johnson that will debut next year at the Guggenheim. She has organized shows for Lynette Yiadom-Boakye at Studio Museum Harlem in 2011 and Howardena Pindell at MCA Chicago in 2018.
Image Courtesy – Hessenschau
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