Adam Szymczyk

Adam Szymczyk named director of Documenta 14

The Polish-born Phaidon author and Chief Curator of the Kunsthalle Basel will oversee the event in 2017

Even in the high concept international art world, there's very little that matches Documenta. The event, which takes place every five years and lasts for 100 days in Kassel, Germany, was founded to introduce Germans to the kind of new art the Nazis had sought to censor. It has since become a more freeform contemporary art event, drawing from all spheres and continents, to take over this otherwise-unremarkable German town during the summer months.

Last year, the American-born curator and Phaidon author Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, oversaw the event - which was widely regarded as one of the best Documentas yet. Now news reaches us that another of our contributors has been appointed artistic director of Documenta 14, due to take place 20 June to 17 September 2017.

 

Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev
Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev

Earlier this month, the 43-year-old, Polish-born curator and writer, Adam Szymczyk was elected to the post by Documenta's committee. Szymczyk is Director and Chief Curator of the Kunsthalle Basel, and also a co-author of our Pawel Althamer book, and a contributor to both our Creamier contemporary art book, and our Diener & Diener architecture title. He has also served as co-curator of the 2008 5th Berlin Biennial.

We would like to extend our congratulations to both Szymczyk and the committee. We think they've made a wise choice. Find out more about Szymczyk here. To find out more about the books he has written, go here.