At the opening ceremony of "Documenta fifteen", Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier criticized those responsible for the art show for their handling of allegations of anti-Semitism.

"It is striking that no Jewish artists from Israel are represented at this important exhibition of contemporary art," he explained according to the speech manuscript.

He was not sure beforehand whether he would even come to the opening.

The world art exhibition was officially opened in Kassel on Saturday.

He finds it disturbing that representatives of the “Global South” are increasingly refusing to take part in events or festivals together with Jewish Israelis.

"Freedom of opinion and freedom of art are at the heart of our constitution.

Criticism of Israeli policy is allowed,” said the German head of state.

"But where criticism of Israel turns into questioning of its existence, the limit has been crossed."

“Documenta fifteen” is being curated for the first time by an artist collective from Asia – by the nine-person group “Ruangrupa” from Indonesia.

According to her ideas, the world art exhibition should focus more than in the past on the view of the people in Asia, Africa and Latin America on the modern world and their problems.

The exhibition organizers feel connected to the philosophy of the "Lumbung", a common rice barn common in Indonesia, in which the harvest is collected and is available to everyone.

The "Ruangrupa" sees the core of its exhibition concept in the joint contribution of skills and sharing.

At the beginning of the year there had already been a discussion about hostility toward Israel in connection with the Documenta.

The accusation of anti-Semitism was based on the fact that some of the invited artists are supposed to support the international BDS campaign, which the Bundestag has classified as anti-Semitic, calling for a boycott against Israel.

The documenta is considered one of the world's most important exhibitions for modern art and takes place every five years.

It goes back to an initiative by the Kassel painter and university teacher Arnold Bode (1900-1977), who organized the first major show of modern art in his hometown in 1955.

The "Documenta fifteen" can be experienced in Kassel until September 25th.