Documenta 4, 1968

Documenta 4 by Jef Cornelis is the first title of the new “Archives” series, which is dedicated to landmark exhibitions and curatorial practices, and which provides reference material and moving images to a growing field of research, that of curatorial studies and exhibition history.

Held in Kassel between June and October 1968, documenta 4—the last to be directed by Arnold Bode—was plagued by controversy and debate: artistic, political, generational, and aesthetic conflicts, as well as tensions between European and American art were some of the issues that affected this edition, echoing the social and political upheavals that were taking place elsewhere at the same time. The film reflects this effervescence, giving voice to the artists, curators, and audience, but also offers a unique approach to an exhibition in progress. We can watch Sol LeWitt constructing Three-Part Variations, Joseph Beuys installing Raumplastik, Martial Raysse talking about the role of the artist, Harald Szeemann defending the concept of the museum, Edward Kienholz explaining his work from inside his Roxys installation, and so on.