Jimmie Durham on His Golden Lion, Playfulness, and Fighting Stupidity

Jimmie Durham, recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2019 Venice Biennale, discusses his reaction to the award, the role of playfulness in art, and the responsibility of artists in confronting intolerance and racism. Durham, born in Washington, Arkansas in 1940, expressed that while he was not initially enthusiastic, he now sees the award as a responsibility to work more seriously. He agrees with curator Ralph Rugoff's description of his work as "playful," emphasizing that serious play is essential, citing Italo Calvino as an example. Durham believes artists can combat hatred through intelligence rather than direct confrontation, mentioning peers like Maria Thereza Alves, David Hammons, and Elisa Strinna. He views biennials and art fairs as necessary modern platforms, despite their commercialization, and notes the positive inclusion of artists from diverse regions. Durham criticizes the current political situation in Italy as dangerous and advocates for continuous intelligent action against stupidity. He discusses his ties to Italy, preferring Naples over Berlin, and praises 20th-century Italian artists for their seriousness. On the return to materiality in contemporary art, Durham attributes it to humanity's primate nature and the need to reunite intellect with the body to avoid deception, citing the Prado Museum's academic paintings as examples of lies.