Assembling assemblies or how public programs do matter in large-scale exhibitions

Public Program; Curatorial Format; documenta 14; Parliament of Bodies; Art and Politics; Participation; Assembly Practices This chapter explores the curatorial format of public programs, which have increasingly accompanied large-scale exhibitions since the last decades. No longer seen as supplementary frameworks, such programs now serve as integral component of exhibition making, aiming to actively engage broad and diverse audiences. The chapter critically examines the Parliament of Bodies’ (PoB) attempt to position itself within the dual exhibition structure of documenta 14 in Athens and Kassel, while responding to the broader context of multiple crises in Europe – particularly in Greece at the time. It investigates how the political theory of “the presentist democracy” shaped the PoB’s aspiration to move beyond discursive formats by fostering concrete, action-oriented possibilities through recurring assembly practices. In doing so, the PoB sought to create a political space for resistance, aiming to combine theoretical reflection with practical engagement. However, despite its politically ambitious goals, the chapter also discusses the limitations of participation. While the PoB was conceived as a core element of documenta 14 and promoted an egalitarian, open format, access proved challenging for visitors not already familiar with its discursive terrain.