Ralph Rugoff on His 2019 Venice Biennale: Art as Playful Critique

In an interview with Artribune, Ralph Rugoff, the director of the 2019 Venice Biennale, elaborates on his curatorial approach. He selected the title 'May You Live in Interesting Times' to symbolize a multifaceted period where falsehoods and truths intermingle. Drawing inspiration from Bruno Latour's 2004 essay, Rugoff emphasizes the importance of constructive critique over deconstruction. He promotes 'post-critical' methods, using Kahlil Joseph's film installation 'BLKNWS' as a case in point. Rugoff also references James Baldwin's insights on artists disrupting the status quo and mentions China Miéville's 'The City & the City' to illustrate how art can expose societal barriers. He showcases the work of Indian photographer Soham Gupta in Calcutta. The Biennale is set to open in May 2019, featuring two exhibitions with the same artists for a more profound exploration.