German Cultural Repression 2023 edit
Introduction edit
A historic series of controversies and resignations within renowned cultural institutions leading to cancellations of planned exhibitions by artists, resignations of curators and jury members, and rescinding of prizes.
Documenta Resignations edit
One significant development involves the resignations of individuals such as Ranjit Hoskoté and Bracha L. Ettinger1 from the Documenta 16 Findungskommission. These resignations have ignited debates around accusations of antisemitism, cultural boycotts, and the broader implications for Germany's role in global cultural affairs.
Frankfurt Book Fair Controversy (2023) edit
The Frankfurt Book Fair, renowned as the world's largest publishing industry gathering, faced a significant controversy surrounding the cancellation of the prize ceremony for Palestinian author Adania Shibli. Shibli was awarded the 2023 LiBeraturpreis for her novel "Minor Detail," offering a fictionalized account of the 1949 rape and murder of a Palestinian Bedouin girl by Israeli soldiers.
The cancellation of the prize ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Buchmesse, was attributed to Litprom, a German literary association partially funded by the Buchmesse. Litprom cited the ongoing Israel-Gaza war as the reason for the decision, stating, "Due to the war started by Hamas, under which millions of people in Israel and Palestine are suffering, the organizer Litprom e.V. decided not to hold the award ceremony." Litprom expressed intentions to explore alternative formats for the event at a later point.
Despite the cancellation being attributed to Litprom, the Buchmesse sought to distance itself, emphasizing its commitment to making Jewish and Israeli voices visible. The president of Litprom's board, Juergen Boos, who is also the director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, released a statement expressing solidarity with Israel.
The controversy sparked widespread criticism, leading to withdrawals from various authors, publishers, and organizations. Over 600 signatories, including writers, publishers, and academics, condemned the cancellation in an open letter. The incident highlighted the complex intersection of literature, politics, and cultural representation, prompting discussions about the role of cultural events in addressing global conflicts.
This episode at the Frankfurt Book Fair adds to the ongoing discourse on cultural repression and the challenges faced by cultural institutions in maintaining neutrality amid geopolitical tensions. It underscores the interconnectedness of literature, cultural events, and political dynamics, contributing to the broader narrative of cultural repression in Germany. 12
Documenta 16 edit
Indian curator Ranjit Hoskoté resigned from the Documenta 16 Selection Committee, following the departure of Israeli artist Bracha L. Ettinger. In a letter to Documenta management, Hoskoté cited his inability to fulfill duties amidst accusations of antisemitism related to his 2019 signature on an anti-Israel petition. He clarified his opposition to BDS and a cultural boycott of Israel, emphasizing the necessity for nuanced discussion. Hoskoté criticized the request to accept a "sweeping and untenable definition of antisemitism" equating support for Palestinians with backing Hamas.
Expressing concern about the impact on Documenta's historical openness to diverse perspectives and Germany's contributions to global cultural policy, Hoskoté lamented the lack of space for nuanced discussion in a "toxic atmosphere" and the demand to accept an unsound definition of antisemitism.
Documenta acknowledged Hoskoté's resignation, highlighting the need for a clear distancing from antisemitism for a successful new beginning post-Documenta 15. The commission faces challenges with a third of its members resigning, impacting the process and timeline for appointing artistic leadership for Documenta 16.34
Folkwang Museum edit
The planned exhibition by artist, writer and poet Anaïs Duplan was cancelled by the Director Peter Gorschlueter of the Folkwang Museum citing posts, comments and likes on Instagram related to a ceasefire in Palestine. The letter was made public by the artist and went viral in the international art community.
Kunstverein Muenchen edit
The Kunstverein Muenchen released a statement about their exhibition of a Palestinian artist and their Instagram posts. They state that they considered closing the show but instead decided to release a statement distancing themselves from the artist while leaving their work in the museum and the exhibition open to the public. 5