A Proposition by Hans Ulrich Obrist: Maps for the 21st Century
Part of Propositions Discussions
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The Maps for the 21st Century project consists in an invitation to artists in which the submission guideline is as minimal as possible: how one perceives a map of the twenty-first century. Following the Formulas for Now book, this ongoing project responds to an urgent need to chart this first decade of a century characterized by increasing displacement, migration, and globality.

Saturday: 4 PM – Hans Ulrich Obrist
Sunday: 12 PM – Guest speaker Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, followed by a lunch break
Sunday: 3 PM – Discussion

Hans Ulrich Obrist is a museum director, curator, writer, art critic, cultural instigator, and professional conversationalist. Since 1991, Obrist has curated over 150 exhibitions internationally, including "do it", "Take Me, I'm Yours", "Live/Life", 1st Berlin Biennale, Manifesta 1, "Uncertain States of America", 1st Moscow Triennale, and 2nd Guangzhou Biennale. He is co-director of Exhibitions and Programmes and Director of International Projects at the Serpentine Gallery, London, and was previously curator of the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; curator of museum in progress, Vienna; and founder of Museum Robert Walser. Obrist is the author of A Brief History of Curating and the editor of Hans Ulrich Obrist: Interviews, which presents selections from the more than 300 interviews he has conducted with artists, writers, architects and thinkers.



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Propositions is a public forum that explores ideas in development. Inspired by the scientific method of hypothesis, research, and synthesis, each two-day seminar explores a topic of current investigation in an invited speaker’s own artistic or intellectual practice. Over the course of a seminar session, these developing ideas are presented to the public, responded to, “researched,” and discussed to propel the ideas forward in unique ways.

One Friday evening per month, an invited artist or cultural thinker will present on an idea in process—the hypothesis—as the seminar topic. This initial presentation introduces the seminar leader’s current thinking on a concept or idea as well as unresolved questions that remain. The next day, starting at noon, an “expert” lecture, screening, performance, or activity presents new perspectives or specific knowledge, followed by a lunch break. In an afternoon discussion, hypothesis, research, and public dialogue converge in an informal working session in the fifth-floor Museum as Hub space at the New Museum.

Propositions is part of the Museum as Hub initiative, a laboratory for art and ideas realized through a partnership of five international arts organizations that includes Insa Art Space, Seoul; the Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo, Mexico City; the Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art, Cairo; and the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven. The initiative seeks to support art activities and experimentation; explore artistic, curatorial, and institutional practice; and serve as an important resource for the public to learn about contemporary art from around the world.