Documenta 14, held in 2017 under the title “Learning from Athens,” was a landmark edition of the renowned contemporary art exhibition, presented simultaneously in Athens and Kassel. For the first time in its history, Documenta expanded beyond its traditional home in Kassel to establish Athens as an equal host city, marking a significant shift in both its geographic and conceptual framework.

The Athens edition played a central role in shaping the exhibition’s political and cultural discourse. At a time when Greece was facing deep economic crisis, social transformation, and increased migration, Athens was positioned as a site of learning, resistance, and alternative knowledge. Rather than functioning merely as a satellite venue, the city became a living laboratory where artists engaged directly with local histories, institutions, and communities.