Kassel, Germany, is far away from everywhere, but everywhere is in
Kassel right now for the 13th Documenta art fair. Established in 1955
and held every five years in this town about two hours east of
Frankfurt, this year’s fair specializes in making real places unreal
–and vice versa. British artist Janet Cardiff created a video piece you
follow on an Ipod as you walk through the town’s central train station,
seeing the empty track where she tells you the trains once left for the
concentration camps. In a baroque municipal park, Pierre Huyge offers
both trash and weeds as art, and throws in some weird science with pair
of dogs featuring purple legs. And South African artist William
Kentridge projects videos— a cartoon-like parade of fools that move
around you and giant metronomes tick-tocking away— on the walls of an
abandoned warehouse. Best of all is the piece by artist Theaster Gates (above),
who took over the old Huguenot-style House and turned it into a three
dimensional art piece, complete with daily jazz performances. 
From left: Works by Pierre Huyge and Janet CardiffOpen through November 13, visit d13.documenta.de
