In the midst of the self-important and hyper-commercial Toronto International Art Fair (which, by the way, becomes less international each year), Rugoff's presentation on his latest exhibitions——courtesy of the Power Plant——was like a delicious, nutritious kale chip in a sea of jujubes.
Rugoff is an uber-chill, charismatic, and inclusive expat American. Originally hailing from New York but better known for his time in L.A. and San Francisco, he talks about his efforts to reinvent London's temporary-exhibit-only Hayward Gallery for contemporary art. A lurking, concrete Brutalist behemoth, the Hayward faces a unique challenge. Namely its exhibition funding is based almost exclusively on ticket sales——no small challenge for a museum director! Rugoff's solutions for engaging the public in contemporary art are, like him, nothing short of genius.
If you can get your hands on his article on the Museum of Jurassic Technology, it's also an exceptional read.
Too impatient to watch the lecture? Check out the highlights after the jump.
