It is well known that—in the current low-cost culture— architecture has become a field populated by improvised people interested in making their (low) argument heard, rather than in listening to other’s people (higher) arguments.
In the current low-cost culture, John Dewey’s famous dictum―democracy begins in conversation―is living an increasingly miserable life. Pontificating is becoming a much coveted activity, in Italy more so than in other countries.
The 2014 Biennale, promised to alter this state of affairs, putting together a show of (impossible and unrealistic) ambitions.
In the videos that follow, the reader can watch pieces of a conversation that I recently had with Andres Ruby. Ruby cuts a rather unusual figure in the present scenario, he’s a non-dogmatic, well-read critic with interesting ideas who isn’t interested in pontificating.
The conversation revolves around a number of issues regarding the Venice Biennale that aren’t discussed in public much. Take, for instance, the role the Institution has today, and should have tomorrow, assuming this is a conversation one can (in theory) have with the Institution itself.
The final video features a proposal for the theme and the curator’s selection process for the 2016 edition ….