#124 - Art and Irresolvable Contradictions (Live) | Tao Ruspoli (Bombay Beach Biennale)
Apr 22, 2022
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Tao Ruspoli, an Italian-American filmmaker and co-founder of the Bombay Beach Biennale, invites festival producer Dulcinee DeGuere and neuroscientist Patrick House for a captivating discussion. They explore how inhospitable environments, like the Salton Sea, can breed creativity and the significance of confronting death to find meaning. The conversation delves into the Biennale's themes of hierarchy and community, questioning philosophical structures while celebrating the transformative power of art amidst contradictions and impermanence.
The Bombay Beach Biennale highlights how inhospitable environments can catalyze artistic creativity and community collaboration among diverse creators.
The festival engages with philosophical themes, challenging hierarchies and promoting dialogues about art's role in reflecting human experiences.
Art emerges from navigating the dialectical tension between beauty and decay, allowing artists to explore deep existential themes playfully.
Deep dives
Dialectical Thinking in Art
The exploration of dialectical thinking emphasizes the synthesis of opposites in art and existence. The concepts of being and nothingness illustrate how purely existing can blur the line between these two extremes, leading to meaningful creation. Artists confronted with the contradictions of life often translate darkness and light, beauty and horror, or humor and sadness into tangible artistic expressions. This place, perceived as derelict, serves as a canvas for artists to navigate and create from these contradictions, resulting in delightful works that emerge from such a complex interplay.
The Evolution of Bombay Beach and Its Biennale
The Bombay Beach Biennale transforms a once-abandoned town into a vibrant celebration of art and community, showcasing how inhospitable environments can foster creativity. Founded in 2015, this event draws artists, philosophers, and creators who contribute to the ongoing dialogue about art's role in society, addressing ecological and existential themes. The town's history as a thriving community diminished by environmental challenges serves as a backdrop for meaningful discussions about art's potential in dire circumstances. By embracing the chaos of this unique, post-apocalyptic landscape, the Biennale thrives, challenging traditional definitions of art and gathering.
Contradictions of Life in Art
The nature of Bombay Beach exemplifies the juxtaposition of beauty and decay, creating an engaging tension that fosters artistic innovation. The community blends tragedy with humor, reflecting on deep existential themes while maintaining a light-heartedness that permeates the art. This intersection of contrasting ideas not only influences the works created but also shapes the artists’ experiences as they wrestle with these dualities. The conversation around how to engage with this serious situation using playfulness remains at the heart of their artistic exploration.
Philosophy and Community in Artistic Spaces
Philosophy serves as a central theme in the Biennale, emphasizing the interconnectedness of art and human experience. By examining the role of community within the creative process, the festival promotes collaborative exploration of philosophical ideas. The dialogue around hierarchies and facilitation points to a deeper understanding of how creative spaces can thrive when they challenge conventional authority. This atmosphere encourages participants to question norms and innovate, fostering a collective identity that transcends individual contributions.
The Impact of Temporality on Art
The acknowledgment of impermanence plays a crucial role in the art created within Bombay Beach, with the transient nature of life infusing works with urgency and significance. Artists are encouraged to consider the harsh realities of their environment, such as extreme weather and decay, in their projects, resulting in unique interpretations of their experiences. This dialectical understanding of temporality fosters a space where creation is both celebrated and ephemeral, enhancing the emotional resonance within the creative community. Embracing the tension between permanence and impermanence, the place encourages a deeper reflection on existence and art's role in it.
On a little known shore inland from Los Angeles lies a post apocalyptic seaside town and one of the art world’s most interesting happenings. Founded in 2015, Bombay Beach Biennale is a renegade celebration of art, music, and philosophy. Pushing through a few hours of sleep, cofounder Tao Ruspoli and I sat down at the Biennale for a conversation.
On the show we discuss the ecological and philosophical paradox of the Salton Sea and the strange fate of Bombay Beach. Tao shares why great art is made from irresolvable contradictions and inhospitable environments. We explore this year’s “Questioning Hierarchy” theme and Tao reveals how Bombay Beach changed him. We invite festival producer Dulcinee DeGuere and Neuroscientist Dr. Patrick House on stage to share the art of facilitation and intrusive déjà vu. Finally Tao shares his vision of life as a festival and how the existence of death is what makes meaning possible.
Tao Ruspoli an Italian-American filmmaker, photographer, musician, and co-founder of The Bombay Beach Biennale. His films include Fix, Being in the World, and the 2017 exploration of polyamory, Monogamish. Dulcinee DeGuere is also a filmmaker, this was her first year producing the Biennale. Tao hosts the Being in the World Podcast with neuroscientist Dr Patrick House.
Bombay Beach Biennale transforms abandoned housing, vacant lots, and decaying shoreline into a unique canvas for creative expression. Artists, philosophers, creators and makers across many mediums donate their time and talents to the volunteer-led happening.
Timestamps
:04 - Martin Heidegger and Being in the World
:10 - The fate of the Salton Sea
:17 - Great art is made from irresolvable contradictions and inhospitable environments
:26 - Honoring the memory of one of Bombay Beach’s great artists Steve “Shig” Shigley
:34 - Questioning Hierarchy
:41 - How Bombay Beach changed Tao
:46 - Festival producer Dulcinee DeGuerre and the art of facilitation and the challenge of self-care
:59 - Neuroscientist Dr. Patrick House and the intrusive deja vu of Bombay Beach
1:16 - How to live your life like a festival
Links:
Tao Ruspoli: https://www.taoruspoli.com/
Bombay Beach Biennale: http://www.bombaybeachbiennale.org/
Being in the World Podcast: http://www.beingintheworld.com/
Dulcinee DeGuere: https://www.dulcinee.fyi/
“Greetings From the Salton Sea: Folly and Intervention in the Southern California Landscape, 1905-2005” by Kim Stringfellow: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greetings-Salton-Sea-Intervention-California/dp/1935195328
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