Rirkrit Tiravanija
One of the most influential artists of his generation, Rirkrit Tiravanija is a pioneer of relational aesthetics – constructing social environments that often blur the line between art and life. Combining traditional object making, public and private performances, teaching, and other forms of public service and social actions, his works involve collective participation as a means to activate his art. While at STPI – inspired by H.G. Wells’ dystopian novel “Time Machine” – Tiravanija constructed narratives of time and space using various print and paper techniques that consider the textured, diverse and chaotic nature of time, capable of developing our consciousness of time and existence.
Born in Bueno Aires; raised in Thailand, Ethiopia and Canada; and educated in Chicago and New York, Tiravanija’s life is a constant negotiation of cultures and languages from which he draws inspiration for his practice. His most iconic work Untitled (Free), 1992 transforms museums and galleries worldwide into kitchens and a place of communion where he serves rice and Thai curry to visitors. A recipient of the Hugo Boss Art Prize, his works are part of notable public collections such as The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA); Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Migros Museum, Zurich; Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin; and TATE, London. He has exhibited widely at renowned institutions such as the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Kunsthalle Bielefeld; Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam; Chiang Mai University Art Museum; Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Philadelphia Museum of Art; and at biennales such as the São Paulo Biennal (2006); the Liverpool Biennial (2002 and 2004); the Whitney Biennial (1995 and 2005); and the Venice Biennale (1993 and 1999).