An exhibition featuring works by renowned Italian artist Marisa Merz has been canceled by the artist's daughter in protest of Documenta's newly adopted Code of Conduct and its definition of antisemitism. The exhibition, originally scheduled to open this fall at the Fridericianum museum in Kassel, Germany, was called off by Beatrice Merz, who serves as president of the Fondazione Merz in Turin and is the daughter of artists Mario and Marisa Merz.
Marisa Merz (1926-2019) held the distinction of being the only woman among the core group of artists associated with the influential Arte Povera movement, which revolutionized sculpture by using everyday materials instead of traditional fine art materials. The planned exhibition was set to open in August at the Fridericianum, which serves as the historic centerpiece of Documenta during the quinquennial festival and hosts major survey exhibitions during off-years.
The cancellation stems from Beatrice Merz's opposition to Documenta's adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. This definition has sparked significant cultural controversy across Europe, with critics arguing that it could potentially penalize artistic expression and limit freedom of speech. Under the IHRA definition, certain criticisms of Israel or Zionism could be classified as forms of prejudice.
"A collaboration with the Museum Fridericianum would have meant accepting the museum's code of conduct, which uses the IHRA definition of antisemitism—a definition with which I don't agree in every respect," Beatrice Merz explained to Monopol magazine on Thursday. "In my view, it would have been more appropriate to use the JDA, the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism. For this reason, as president of the Fondazione Merz, I felt it was right to cancel the exhibition project."
The exhibition's cancellation was not publicly known until this week, though it had appeared on a 2025 calendar released by the Fridericianum last December. The museum has since replaced the planned Marisa Merz exhibition with a survey of works by Robert Grosvenor. Beatrice Merz emphasized her belief that "art should not be restricted by borders and, above all, must be free of prejudice."
Andreas Hoffmann, managing director of both Documenta and the Fridericianum, confirmed the cancellation in a statement to Monopol magazine. "Discussions with the Fondazione Merz revealed that the framework for the planned exhibition featuring works by Marisa Merz was not entirely compatible," he stated. "We respect the Fondazione Merz's decision not to pursue the exhibition further."
This cancellation represents the latest controversy stemming from Documenta 15, the 2022 edition of the prestigious art exhibition that continues to cast a divisive shadow over the institution. During that show, a monumental mural containing antisemitic caricatures was displayed to the public before being quickly removed, creating a major scandal that prompted a government inquiry into how such artwork passed Documenta's vetting process. The incident raised serious questions about the future of the state-funded exhibition.
Documenta is not alone among German institutions in adopting new antisemitism definitions following the 2022 controversy. The German Bundestag formally adopted the IHRA's definition of antisemitism in 2024, despite significant opposition from many artists and academics throughout Germany who expressed concerns about potential restrictions on artistic and academic freedom.
In his statement regarding the cancellation, Hoffmann clarified that the Documenta Code of Conduct applies specifically to the institution's employees rather than to the exhibition's artistic team or associates. "Artistic freedom applies without restriction to curatorial work," he explained. "Documenta gGmbH guarantees artistic freedom within the framework of the laws applicable in Germany. Insofar as Documenta deems artistic expressions incompatible with the principles set out in this Code of Conduct, it reserves the right to comment on its resulting position and, if necessary, to explain it in the immediate visual context of the exhibited artworks."
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between protecting against antisemitism and preserving artistic freedom in Germany's cultural institutions. As Documenta prepares for its 2027 edition, many in the art world are watching closely to see how these policies will impact future exhibitions and whether similar cancellations might occur. The debate reflects broader European discussions about balancing the fight against antisemitism with maintaining space for critical discourse and artistic expression.
