Ralph Rugoff Appointed Curator for 2015 Lyon Biennale

Ralph Rugoff, director of London's Hayward Gallery, will curate the 2015 Lyon Biennale. The event's artistic director, Thierry Raspail, has selected the word 'modern' as the thematic foundation for Rugoff and the curators of the 2017 and 2019 editions. Since 1991, Raspail has provided a single word to guide each curator's vision across three biennials. Rugoff's appointment marks a continuation of this unique curatorial framework. Raspail clarified that 'modern' encompasses but is distinct from modernism and modernity, referencing Arthur Rimbaud's notion that 'one must be absolutely modern.' He noted contemporary relevance, citing neo-modernism in visual arts, vintage design trends, and historical re-enactments as modern expressions. The biennale, held in Lyon, France, operates under this word-based system to shape successive exhibitions.