70 Years of documenta

On July 15, 1955, documenta, founded by Arnold Bode, opened its doors for the first time in Kassel. The Kassel painter and academy professor attempted to bring Germany back into a dialog with the world after the end of the Second World War through a "presentation of the art of the twentieth century" and to include it in the international art scene.

A total of 15 editions of documenta have since taken place – each with its own distinct character, shaped by the social, political, and cultural issues of its time. Over the past seven decades, documenta has reinvented itself time and again, and has been discussed, celebrated, and criticized. The documenta 16 will open in Kassel in 2027.

The anniversary provides an opportunity to look back on seven decades of intensive engagement with art and society – and at the same time to look to the future. documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH and the Fridericianum will celebrate the 70th anniversary with a ceremony on Saturday, June 7, 2025 which will coincide with the opening of the intervention 7000 Palmen by Cosima von Bonin.

Andreas Hoffmann, Managing Director of documenta und Museum Fridericianum GmbH, expresses the hopes he associates with the milestone of the art exhibition: "The ceremony marks the highlight of the anniversary year offering the opportunity to look back together with the former Artistic Directions and the Artistic Direction of documenta 16 and at the same time to venture an outlook on the future of the international art exhibition. With the intervention by Cosima von Bonin, already hosted at documenta 12 in Kassel, the whole city will be involved in the celebrations and encouraged to join in."

Commenting on the significance of the anniversary for the documenta city, Kassel's Lord Mayor Sven Schoeller said: "documenta is an integral part of Kassel's identity – it shapes our cityscape, our cultural self-image, and our international profile. The 70th anniversary is not only an occasion to celebrate, but also a moment of appreciation for all those who have made this unique success story possible."

Timon Gremmels, Hessian Minister of State for Science and Research, Art and Culture, expresses his enthusiasm for the project: "Over the past 70 years, documenta has not only written art history, but has also sparked social debates worldwide. It fills me with great joy that this anniversary is being celebrated with such a lively, participatory project that involves urban society while at the same time radiating internationally." 

Moritz Wesseler, Director of the Fridericianum, is delighted to announce a very special art experience: "We are overjoyed and very grateful to be able to make another key contribution to documenta's anniversary with the artistic intervention 7000 Palmen by Cosima von Bonin. We are especially delighted with the interactive part of the project: we are making the green and white palm pennants created by this internationally acclaimed documenta participant available to all art-loving visitors to the Fridericianum. Visitors can use them to decorate a location of their choice and thus become part of this extraordinary project. The launch of the project will be celebrated on June 7 with a colorful festival for young and old – with exhibition tours, creative workshops, children's games, summery food and refreshments, an art performance, a drag queen show, a concert, and a documenta party."