At the end of the critique was to vehemently: The Documenta, the art performance “Auschwitz-on-the-Beach says.” The artist wanted to compare the suffering of refugees with the destruction of the Jews.
Action Artist Franco Bifo Berardi
The Documenta has responded to the massive criticism of the planned Performance of the “Auschwitz-on-the-Beach” and the Event cancelled. “The event will not take place as planned,” said a spokesman for the art exhibition of the German wave. In a Statement, Paul B. Preciado, curator of Public programs of Documenta 14, said, “the allegations are neither simple discussion, and critical Thinking to accept to want to give up”. However, the decision was made, the Performance to cancel, to those who had felt attacked, add no pain.
A discussion about shame
Instead, the Performance will now take place this Thursday evening under the title “Shame on us” for a discussion. “The new title of the event refers to many of the letters ended with the phrase ‘Shame on you’,” said Preciado. In addition, the title to attack the claim by the Italian artist Franco Bifo Berardi, that the Europeans should for dealing with the refugees to be ashamed of.
The planned one-hour Performance based on a poem Berardis and was provided with a Soundtrack by Fabio Stefano Berardi and a picture of the installation of Dim Sampaio. You should draw a Parallel between the death of refugees in the Mediterranean sea and the destruction of the Jews by the Nazis. In the announcement of the Documenta Berardi had accused the Europeans of “build concentration camps” and “to pay Gauleiter” in Turkey, Libya, and Egypt, to do the “dirty work”. “The salt water has now been replaced Zyklon B”, was the name of it. Later, Berardi had justified his choice of words in order that Auschwitz was a Synonym of the Inhuman. The Inhuman was back in the Mediterranean sea.
Criticism from shareholders
After criticism from Jewish associations from the two shareholders of the Documenta-city of Kassel and state of Hesse was the last to become significant criticism. Hesse, science and the arts Minister Boris Rhein had recommended the cancellation of the Performance, Kassel’s Lord mayor Christian companion spoke of a “monstrous provocation”.
The Chairman of the Jewish community in Kassel, Ilana Katz, had the from 24. to 26. August planned Performance as “tasteless” and “hurtful”. You would relativize the crimes of the Shoah.
Originally, the Documenta has had to carry out the Performance despite the heavy criticism, as planned.
tla/pg (Documenta, epd, dpa)