Hans Ulrich Obrist Archive — Chapter 1: Édouard Glissant

This presentation of the archive of Hans Ulrich Obrist is dedicated to the late Édouard Glissant (b. 1928 in Martinique, France – d. 2011 in Paris, France), Martinique-born philosopher, poet and public intellectual. Drawing on periods of collaboration, friendship and mentorship between the philosopher and the curator, the presentation highlights a belief they had in common: conversation and reciprocal exchange with the other can be a means to produce new realities. For Glissant, a world in transformation is an “One-World” that listens and learns from each of its unique voices. Glissant is an emblematic figure for both Obrist, for whom he was a mentor, and for the Luma project in Arles, for which the thinker has been an inspiration since its genesis, as for many who are finally grasping the relevance of his thinking.

The Archive of Hans Ulrich Obrist (b. 1968, Zurich) documents his curatorial and conversa-tional practice. Since the late 1980s, the Swiss-born curator has been developing a multifaceted practice that is shaped, first and foremost, through interactions. His archive is about listening, since it contains a multitude of encounters with some of the most influential figures of our times.