Hans Ulrich Obrist's New Book Explores the Purpose of Art

A new book by Gianluigi Ricuperati, presented at the Fondazione Cini's Stanze della fotografia on San Giorgio Island during the Venice Architecture Biennale opening, examines the life and practice of curator Hans Ulrich Obrist. Born in 1968 in Zurich, Obrist has amassed over 3,000 recorded interviews in three decades, now archived by the Luma Foundation and exhibited at the Rencontres d'Arles. The book, structured as a dialogue, blends biography with curatorial theory, revealing Obrist's mantra: 'What is your unrealized project?'—a question inspired by artist Alighiero Boetti. Obrist, artistic director of Serpentine Galleries in London, contrasts with Francesco Bonami's ironic approach, offering a serious, fast-paced method exemplified by his London marathon talks. The volume serves as a manual for young curators, listing key influences like Édouard Glissant. Published by Marsilio in Venice, 2022, 176 pages, €16.