Hans Ulrich Obrist

Hans Ulrich Obrist is a Swiss art curator, critic, and historian who has served as the artistic director of the Serpentine Galleries in London since 2006. His work has focused extensively on preserving art history through interviews, having conducted thousands of hours of discussions with artists, architects, scientists, and other cultural figures. Obrist gained prominence in the 1990s for his innovative curatorial approaches, including organizing exhibitions in unconventional locations like hotel rooms and private homes. His ongoing "Interview Project" has resulted in over 2,000 hours of recorded conversations with influential cultural figures, forming a significant oral history archive of contemporary art. Notable among his publications are "Ways of Curating," "A Brief History of Curating," and the "Interview" series, which have become important references in contemporary art discourse. His curatorial philosophy emphasizes the importance of making connections across disciplines and generations, often bringing together artists, scientists, writers, and thinkers from different fields. Obrist has been consistently ranked as one of the most influential figures in the contemporary art world by ArtReview's Power 100 list. His approach to exhibition-making and art history has influenced a generation of curators and arts professionals, while his extensive archive of interviews continues to serve as a valuable resource for art historians and researchers.

Readers appreciate Obrist's extensive documentation of contemporary art through interviews, creating a vast archive of primary sources. Many note his ability to draw unexpected connections across disciplines and make complex art concepts accessible. Readers praise the conversational style in "Ways of Curating" and the breadth of perspectives in "A Brief History of Curating." One Amazon reviewer wrote: "His interview technique allows subjects to reveal themselves naturally." Common criticisms include: - Dense, academic writing style - Tendency to name-drop - Interviews sometimes lack depth or follow-through - Some books feel like compilations rather than cohesive works From multiple review sites: Goodreads: - Ways of Curating: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) - A Brief History of Curating: 3.9/5 (400+ ratings) - Lives of the Artists, Lives of the Architects: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: - Ways of Curating: 4.2/5 - Interview series books average 4.0/5 Several readers note his books work better as references than cover-to-cover reads.

Ways of Curating (2014) A reflection on the practice of curation through personal experiences, historical examples, and interviews with artists and cultural figures.

Lives of the Artists, Lives of the Architects (2015) A compilation of interviews with influential artists and architects conducted over several decades.

A Brief History of Curating (2008) Interviews with pioneering museum directors and curators who shaped exhibition-making in the 20th century.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Curating But Were Afraid to Ask (2011) A collection of conversations about contemporary art and curation with various cultural practitioners.

The Interview Project (2012) A selection of interviews with artists, writers, and thinkers conducted between 1996-2011.

do it: the compendium (2013) A collection of artists' instructions and scores that can be interpreted and executed by others.

Mapping it Out: An Alternative Atlas of Contemporary Cartographies (2014) A compilation of maps and diagrams created by artists, architects, and scientists exploring various ways of visualizing information.

The Age of Earthquakes: A Guide to the Extreme Present (2015) An examination of digital culture and its impact on contemporary society, co-authored with Douglas Coupland and Shumon Basar.

Nicolas Bourriaud writes about relational aesthetics and contemporary art curation, examining how artists create social environments and experiences. His work focuses on similar themes to Obrist regarding the evolving nature of exhibition-making and artistic practice.

Claire Bishop analyzes participatory art and social practice through a critical theoretical lens. Her writings examine the intersection of politics, social engagement, and contemporary art institutions.

Terry Smith documents contemporary curating practices and the evolution of global exhibition-making. He explores how curators shape cultural discourse through their selection and presentation methods.

Paul O'Neill researches the development of curatorial discourse and the emergence of curating as a distinct practice. His work tracks the history of exhibition-making from the 1960s through the present, with emphasis on the curator's changing role.

Bruce Altshuler chronicles the history of art exhibitions and their impact on cultural institutions. His books document significant shows and curatorial innovations through primary source materials and archival research.