dOGUMENTA (13) (2012)
Since 1955, once every five years, an art event, more important than any other, is staged in the town of Kassel, Germany.
Last year, the thirteenth dOCUMENTA was curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev. Even before it opened, dOCUMENTA (13) was unkindly dubbed 'Dogumenta (13)' by an international, male-dominated art press, suspicious or perhaps jealous of dOCUMENTA's female curator. They were even more suspicious of Christov-Bakargiev's fascination with dogs and, informed by thinkers such as the late Jacques Derrida and Donna Harraway, her championing of animal rights, in the broadest political sense conceivable.
For those visitors prepared to go along with Christov-Bakargiev's vision, dOCUMENTA (13) offered a unique art experience, which included being guided around the artworks of Karlsaue Park by a team of search-and-rescue dogs.
Last year, the thirteenth dOCUMENTA was curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev. Even before it opened, dOCUMENTA (13) was unkindly dubbed 'Dogumenta (13)' by an international, male-dominated art press, suspicious or perhaps jealous of dOCUMENTA's female curator. They were even more suspicious of Christov-Bakargiev's fascination with dogs and, informed by thinkers such as the late Jacques Derrida and Donna Harraway, her championing of animal rights, in the broadest political sense conceivable.
For those visitors prepared to go along with Christov-Bakargiev's vision, dOCUMENTA (13) offered a unique art experience, which included being guided around the artworks of Karlsaue Park by a team of search-and-rescue dogs.