The Controversy over documenta fifteen

In the summer of 2022, documenta fifteen, curated by ruangrupa, sparked a controversy about anti-Semitism in the art world. The rapidly polarised discourse prevented a fact-based reappraisal in the context of the exhibition. The reactions to the appointment of ruangrupa members Reza Afisina and Iswanto Hartono to a DAAD guest professorship at the HFBK Hamburg were correspondingly strong. However, the art academy saw this constellation as an opportunity to create a framework for the necessary reflection on this complex topic.
This volume reflects the lines of discussion at the symposium Kontroverse documenta fifteen organised in February 2023. In five panels, connections were analysed, backgrounds of different points of view were shown and a debate was facilitated that addressed the role of art in dealing with anti-Semitism. It was also revealed how necessary it is to practise the skill that Natan Sznaider called for at the beginning of the conference: tolerance of ambiguity.