Interview with Hans Ulrich Obrist about Zaha Hadid

Speaker(s): Hans Ulrich Obrist, Zaha Hadid
Duration: 3 min

In this interview, recorded on the occasion of the exhibition Hans Ulrich Obrist Archives Chapter 6: Zaha Hadid ‘I Think There Should Be No End to Experimentation’, Hans Ulrich Obrist reflects on his friendship with the architect and the ideas that shaped her work throughout her career. Through memories, artworks and conversations, he paints a portrait of an artist who never took anything for granted and approached every project as an opportunity to explore new possibilities.

The paintings on view in the exhibition embody this spirit of freedom. Influenced by twentieth-century avant-garde figures including Kazimir Malevich, El Lissitzky and Vladimir Tatlin, they envision a world not yet seen and anticipate the bold forms that would come to define Hadid’s work. Her later architecture and design projects continued to challenge the way we experience space, movement and gravity.

Her work as a whole reflects an idea she held throughout her life: there should be no end to experimentation. More than a method, it became a mantra—one that resonates strongly at LUMA Arles, where research, innovation and experimentation are equally central to the creative process.

Exhibition

Related exhibitions / events

Hans Ulrich Obrist Archives Chapter 6: Zaha Hadid ‘I Think There Should Be No End to Experimentation’

From May 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027
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