Hans-Ulrich Obrist, the artistic director of London’s Serpentine Galleries, has topped this year’s ArtReview Power 100 of the most influential people in the art world.
The 48-year old Swiss curator tops a list compiled in consultation with an invited international panel of 20 writers, artists, curators and critics. Rankings are based on ‘an individual’s or group’s international influence over the production and dissemination of art and ideas within the artworld and beyond over the past 12 months’.
ArtReview described Obrist, who previously topped the list in 2009, as being “famous for ignoring traditional constraints of both time (he works nearly constantly, and famously founded the Brutally Early Club, an open- to-all discussion group that meets at 6.30am) and geographic place (he is in perpetual motion, giving talks and doing interviews at nearly every significant art event around the globe). A single institution could never hope to house the full breadth of his activities.”
The list, now in its 15th year, also features three artists in the top 10: German artist Hito Steyerl, German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans and Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei.
Artists entering the list for the first time include young British artist Ed Atkins at number 50, Indian artists Raqs Media Collective at 86, South African artist Zanele Muholi at 95 and Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson at 100.
Frances Morris, director of Tate Modern, is one of the highest new entries on the list. She joins Nicholas Serota, the departing director of Tate and soon to be chair of Arts Council England, at number five.
Images:
1. Hans-Ulrich Obrist
2. Ai WeiWei. Photo: Gao Yuan
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