Block stamp: 10.documenta, Kassel - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1997 - 100 Pfennig

The »documenta« is a series of exhibitions of modern art that takes place every four to five years in Kassel for three months. It was founded in 1955 by the Kassel Academy Professor Arnold Bode (1900-1977) and is under the protectorate of the Federal President. It is financially supported by the Federal Republic of Germany, the state of Hesse and the city of Kassel. The first documenta in 1955 was marked by the art ostracized by the National Socialists, the avant-garde of the 1920s. But it also had the goal of rediscovering the artistic and cultural connection to international development after the war. The documenta, which takes place for the tenth time this year, has since developed into the most important world art event, which is particularly honored in a retrospective. Catherine David, Exhibition Director of documenta 10, defines the world art show as »manifestation culturelle« and places documenta 10 in Kassel's »tradition of innovation«. The stamp block shows as an example of abstract painting, which was dominant in the Western world, a composition by Fritz Winter, 1956, documenta 2, 1959. At documenta 4, 1968, the pop-art and large-scale painting was significant: »Mouth No 15 «By Tom Wesselmann, 1968, and» Quathlamba «by Frank Stella, 1964, document these important styles of modern art. The video sculpture "Beuys / Bois", 1987, by Nam June Paik stands for the art of the new electronic media. The frame surrounding the four stamps depicts the Kasseler Museum Fridericianum, the center of the documenta, as well as the symbols of the ten exhibitions. (Text: Professor Karl Oskar Blase, University of Kassel)