documenta is an
exhibition of
modern and
contemporary art which takes place every five years in
Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator
Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the
Bundesgartenschau (Federal Horticultural Show) which took place in Kassel at that time, and was an attempt to bring Germany up to speed with modern art, both banishing and repressing the cultural darkness of
Nazism. This first
documenta featured many artists who are generally considered to have had a significant influence on modern art (such as
Picasso and
Kandinsky). The more recent
documentas feature art from all continents; nonetheless most of it is
site-specific.