Venice still has its charm, and the Biennale always features strong work. But a lot has changed, especially given the surfeit of digital information readily at hand. What makes someone search for meaning and pause for a moment to ask, what is reliable knowledge and what is meaningful experience?

Decades ago I met Asher Remy-Toledo, one of the kindest, humblest, and most open people, who quickly became an integral part of my life. He lived just a few blocks away from me, which meant we often met to chat while seated on a bench in Madison Square Park, or over a glass of wine in his favorite café. We always had a lot to discuss, given his insatiable curiosity.