ALEX GALAN | DATE 10/25/2010

Hans Ulrich Obrist: Interviews Volume 2

Hans Ulrich Obrist and the Institute of the 21st Century launched Obrist's monumental second book of collected interviews, published by Charta, at MoMA PS1 on Saturday, October 23, with an event featuring curator Klaus Biesenbach, astronomer Dimitar Sasselov, and artists Paul Chan, Marina Abramovic, Joan Jonas and Terence Koh. A communal booksigning followed the presentation with Rikrit Tiravanija, Frederic Tuten, John Giorno, Jonas Mekas, Joshua Wolfson, Tony Conrad and Israel Rosenfeld. Photographs below couresy of Billy Farrell Agency.

Left: Hans Ulrich Obrist signs copies of his new, 950-page book of recent interviews. Right: Astronomer Dimitar Sasselov spoke about his discovery of hundreds of earth-like planets, potentially habitable by humans.

Left: Video and performance artist Joan Jonas talked about her experience being interviewed by HUO. Right: Canadian-born artist Terence Koh, signing copies of the book, dressed in traditional Indian garb resembling Ghandi's.

Marina Abramovic recorded a video performance for the event where she chanted words that describe HUO. Her pace quicked until she was speed talking.

Bettina Korek of ForYourArt and Klaus Biesenbach, Director of MoMA PS1 and Chief Curator at Large at The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Left: Obrist on stage with artist Paul Chan, who is rarely photographed (so we are only showing you his back). Right: Artist Rirkrit Tiravanija signs books.

Sasselov, noted New York collectors and philanthropists Phil Arons and Shelley Fox Arons, graphic designer Garrick Gott and Francesca Sorace, U.S. Editorial Director of Charta.

Francesca Sorace and Giuseppe Liverani of Charta, publisher of both volumes of Obrist's collected interviews.

Left: Filmmaker Jonas Mekas and novelist Frederic Tuten. Right: Poet and performance artist John Giorno.