ARTS: Artuklu Journal of Arts and Humanities

Abstract

The documenta exhibition, organized fort he 8th time in 1987, builds its theory on postmodernism, which is an inevitable situation in line with the requirements of the epoch. With postmodernism as a new social situation, meta-narratives lose their power. Authorities open up for discussion. This situation requires new attitudes and a new language of work. Accordingly questioning the interpersonal ties of art, documenta 8 becomes a place where new attitudes and new forms are tested. It can be said that the exhibition seeks answers to the artistic and cultural structure of the epoch with new approaches. These approaches form the basis of theoretical discussions and are reflected in the works. The theoretical approaches and creative practices dominated by the postmodern epistemological method open up the new positions and responsibilities of the work of art to question. In documenta 8, a bridge is built between the past and the current, and comparisons are made between the past and the current situation. While the exhibition preserves its own accumulation, it is also closely related to new situations. Constructed with a critical and experimental structure, the exhibition turns into a kitchen where innovations are tested. Social and plastic inquiries that ar stil up to date can be reviewed by examining the theoretical infrastructure of the exhibition and illustrating it with works.