No one had expected such a success story when the documenta opened for the first time in 1955 to accompany the Federal Garden Show. In the ruins of the destroyed Museum Fridericianum, Arnold Bode, the originator and initiator of the world art exhibition, together with the art historian Werner Haftmann, presented the developments in art since the early 20th century, which had not been allowed to be shown during the Nazi era. Since that time, the documenta has undergone many changes. The changing curators each brought their own view of contemporary art and always triggered socio-political discussions. The next exhibition will also be seamlessly integrated into this process, as the world art exhibition will be directed by a collective of artists for the first time.
