Hans-Ulrich Obrist
Hans-Ulrich Obrist
Hans-Ulrich Obristis an art curator, critic and historian of art. He is artistic director at the Serpentine Galleries, London. Obrist is the author of The Interview Project, an extensive ongoing project of interviews. He is also co-editor of the Cahiers d'art revue...
NationalitySwiss
ProfessionCritic
CountrySwitzerland
entire essential life projects work
For me, it's always been very essential to work on projects that one can work on almost for their entire life.
art includes showing
To keep art stimulating, it's important to open it up to new horizons, which includes showing it in unexpected contexts.
deeper work
There is nothing deeper than to work for a year with the same artist.
art life mix utility
The non-utility of my kitchen could be transformed into its utility for art. To do a show there would mix art and life, naturally.
favourite
One of my favourite exhibitions is called 'Do It,' which I co-curated with the artists Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier 21 years ago.
famous gallery
My most famous show is the 'Kitchen Show.' More famous than any gallery show or museum show I curated.
realise
Many artists have not been able to realise their fondest projects. My role is to help them.
knew quite
It's quite an obscure notion for a kid, no? To want to be a curator. But even then, I knew that I would do this.
morning
I don't wake up in the morning and think about Franz Kline.
disperse
Exhibitions usually are not collected; they disperse after they take place.
centre model numerous surrounded
Most cities have a centre surrounded by suburbs, but London has numerous centres: it's the model of a twenty-first century metropolis.
I always have coffee and porridge for breakfast.
build creating curator motivator sparring
I see a curator as a catalyst, generator and motivator - a sparring partner, accompanying the artist while they build a show, and a bridge builder, creating a bridge to the public.
dialogue focused invent teaching
For me, the making of exhibitions has always had to do with dialogue: a concentrated, in-depth, focused dialogue with artists, who keep teaching me that exhibitions should always invent new rules for the game.