comparison with your draft storyline
In my draft storyline, I used a traditional concept in China called „Datong“, trying to engage the art to intervene in a global crisis and let the audience make some reflection.
documenta 15 has already well expressed this point, for both the concept of Lumbung and the curatorial team is multi-ethnic, that’s why we could feel the multicultural atmosphere during the exhibition tour. Diversified samples that are based on local art practice are able to make their own voices heard, which is exactly my idea of „Datong“.

what did you expect, what happened, and what was surprising
On the tour, I expected to engage in the documenta as much as I could, which did happen for we have been toured to the exhibition hall, the streets, the square, and most surprisingly, even the subway and the archive room. Kassel is everywhere in the city and we also engage in most of those parts, which was so impressive.

what was irritating
If we could take courses on site, it would be wonderful. But we have already tried our best, so this is not too much irritating.
other critical reflection
Art museums made a critical role when it comes to Urban Renewal. Previous research has focused on how the construction of art museums builds the image of the city through its exterior architecture and how it drives tourism

Previously we were “reading” documenta 15, now we are actually seeing it,in a spcial way. I could only learn about artworks through
pictures and texts, but especially for works involving sound, such as inland’s work, which contains a mixture of bees and choirs, and the subtle atmosphere in the ballroom of Hotel Hessenland, which is set by music and light, It’s difficult to appreciate it with press pictures.

The live broadcast brought me a fresh feeling about documenta 15. I felt the energy and vibrancy of the exhibition like never before. Following the online broadcast throughout documenta 15, we were able to see firsthand how the works connected with the city of Kassel and with the audience.I think all these works together shape a colorful, vibrant atmosphere that takes root in the whole environment, as if they are inviting you. I think documenta 15 is really a documenta that requires everyone to participate, to collaborate, to get involved. Thus, it is even more regrettable that we cannot visit the site in person.

The whole exhibition is constantly changing, always in process, like an organic ecosystem, inviting and expecting the participation of each element to change the face of documenta 15. Such a curatorial and presentational approach is very interesting and almost something I had never imagined an exhibition could be. Our curatorial thinking may be stuck in „raising questions and letting the works reflect those questions“ or „organizing the works to tell a story“. documenta 15 presents a different kind of idea. What I find most exciting about Document 15 is that there is almost no distance between the curators, the artists, the works and the audience. No matter what the “ question“ or “ story“ is, the boundary between the teller and the listener is blurred. This openness and variability also means challenges in terms of coordination and management of all aspects, which require a holistic and flexible response.

Before visiting documenta 15, I simply expected a good exhibition, a good concept, good artworks and good space design. I was completely overwhelmed by how warm documenta 15 made me feel, both in terms of my original concept of the exhibition and the artwork.

First of all, „collective“ is a warm word that reminds us to be inclusive of all groups of people in the face of the terrible state of the world. Secondly, the poster design and promotional visuals can make people feel power and enthusiasm, I was totally infected with the desire to find out what is going on. documenta 15 not only combines social issues and makes people reflect on the current situation of society, but also in turn embraces and heals every viewer without those clichés, it is very natural, it makes me believe that great art and great exhibitions have the power to change the current situation of society, despite some unpleasant changes, but I believe most people will still benefit from it.

Not only that, but documenta 15 showed me how diverse the exhibition approach can be, and how comfortable everything is! I think documenta 15 can serve as a model to inspire my curatorial philosophy. The only annoying thing is that I can’t see it in person, I guess. I hope I will have the chance to go to Kassel in the future.

Journey of documenta 15 provides me a broad but also concrete way to take a look at art. Issues touched by documenta are various, however, it is not just about the abstract concepts. From the conversation between our agency and curator/artist/educator from documenta, we actually see and feel it with a specific view, which also emphasizes the “vitality” of it. Also, the fluidity and changeability are impressive. Communication is always, and we are all in the process of finding questions/answers together.

Exploring documenta 15 through the Zoom meeting is a unique experience, providing us with a vivid perspective rather than just imagining it through pictures and posts. This documenta broke new ground by inviting community-oriented collectives, insititutions, and organizations all over the world to participate and providing „100 days of platform“ for collective practices. This makes me wonder what is the future of documenta and contemporary exhibitions. The answer is still being sought. There are various inevitable reasons why the audience cannot attend the exhibition, and in an increasingly complex international environment, to combine offline and online seems to be an option.

What impressed me most about documenta 15 was the atmosphere in the city. You could walk through the streets, where museums or various spaces were connected by documenta to create a holistic atmosphere. Although we were only involved in these three trips to documenta through zoom, it still made me feel how an artistic celebration can be connected to the living space of the public. I was deeply touched by this kind of participation or educational atmosphere, and it was an experience that could not be obtained through reading.

With the help of new media, the three-days documenta 15 Tour is a special experiment in contemporary social context. Even though there are a lot of technical problems, I would say there are a lot of things that are unique to this tour, and that is participation, communication and sharing.
Using the whole city as a space, Kassel’s architecture, natural environment and urban life are closely connected to the exhibition. Through the conversations with artists, curators, educators and scholars, I have gained a better understanding of the core concepts of the curators and the complex international situation that documenta 15 is facing. And I particulary like the Docmenta Archive and the Grimmwelt, because they showed the extension and expansion of the concept „documenta“.

Before this, we had only been able to find out about documenta 15 through news and social media, and although we were able to get all the information about the exhibition in a timely manner, it was fragmented, cold and isolated. But this journey showed me that documenta is alive, I saw the relevant everything, the city, the audience , the history and the traces of previous documenta exhibitions, and that the appeal of documenta in Kassel is not only academic and artistic, but more richer. I also gained a lot from communicating with different artists and team members, not just information about documenta’s curation, but a more open and international perspective.

This documenta 15 has impressed me the most in three aspects.First of all, the audience is beyond my imagination. An exhibition can be so popular and must have its own advantages and characteristics, but it can also see the documenta 15’s efforts in audience development and audience education.The second is the freshness of the works. Many of the works exhibited in documenta 15 reflect the current era, social and political problems, so it can be said to continue the spirit and tradition of the Cassel documentation Exhibition. An exhibition can be continuously developed, and its core concept and spirit must be crucial.In addition, what I admire is the working methods, working spirit and working efficiency of the documenta 15 curator team. Through the communication with the curators and relevant leaders, I can feel that they are very dedicated and love this great cause.

Through the live broadcast of the entire documentary exhibition, I hope to think further about the spirit and function of the exhibition itself, the relationship between the exhibition and the audience, and the relationship between the exhibition and the society. The issues of how to create a free and relaxed atmosphere like documenta 15 in the exhibition, how to involve more audiences, and how to contribute to society, the world and even the universe through the exhibition are what I hope to be further discussed in the future curatorial practice.