Radcliffe Bailey discusses memory, biennials, and home

You mean the international circuit of biennials and residencies...
Right. It's a small circle. I am more interested in saying, "Hey, I can live here. I don't have to go move to be successful. I can be successful at home. That's been one of my biggest goals. It was by accident because I wanted to be close to my parents. As they get older, I want to be sure they are okay. And why compromise that? Rather than saying, I am compromising my practice, my practice is that.

You are really living wholly in the world..
Tryin' to [laughter]. I probably won't be seen as that, but I am trying my best to do that.

You have travelled to Africa. How were you received?
I think being an African American is sometimes respected, or understood, from a distance by way of the things that African Americans have done. Africans know that by way of the media. But then for them to see themselves within us — you're not sure actually how they see you. Do they see you just through the media, or do they see that connection between the way language is spoken creatively; thinkers, the whole nine. I am curious about that — a lot.

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