EMST’s Art Collection Travels from Athens to Kassel for ‘documenta 14’ Show

Artwork by Jannis Kounellis, EMST Collection, © Jasper Kettner

As the contemporary art show documenta 14 is underway in Athens, the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST), the show’s main exhibition venue, is sending part of its collection to Kassel, Germany, where it will be on display between June 10 and September 17.

The collection titled “ANTIDORON. The EMST Collection” will be presented at the building of the Fridericianum Museum, EMST announced.  It consists of 180 artworks, created by 82 artists and it is curated by EMST Director Katerina Koskina.

The exhibition deals with the issues of border crossing, diaspora, cultural exchange and myths, as well as personal and collective memories. It aims at promoting the concepts of trading, exchanging, sharing, giving and offering, as “antidoron” in Greek means the return of a gift.

Artwork by Bia Davou, EMST Collection, © Nils Klinger

As the Fridericianum Museum becomes EMST’s contemporary home in Germany, “ANTIDORON” will be a gift in return, symbolizing the shared benefits of this collaboration, EMST underlined in its announcement.

Aiming at building an “artistic bridge” between Athens and Kassel, documenta 14, opened its doors in the Greek capital on April 18 and will last until July 16. It is the first time that documenta 14 is taking place in a city other than Kassel. Athens was selected due to its rich cultural heritage and its long history, being also at the epicenter of global concerns in politics and the economy.