Tao Ruspoli
Tao Ruspoli | |
|---|---|
Ruspoli (left) with Mark Wrathall and Iain Thomson in 2013 | |
| Born | 7 November 1975 Bangkok, Thailand |
| Citizenship |
|
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA Philosophy, 1998) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse | |
| Partner | Dulcinée DeGuere (2020–present) |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Francesco Ruspoli, 10th Prince of Cerveteri (half-brother) Mélusine Ruspoli (half-sister) Bartolomeo Ruspoli (brother) |
| Website | taoruspoli |
Tao dei Principi Ruspoli (/ˈrʊspoʊli/ RUU-spoh-lee; born 7 November 1975) is an Italian and American filmmaker, photographer, musician, and founder. He is best known for his philosophical documentaries Being in the World (2010) and Monogamish (2017), and as co-founder of the Bombay Beach Biennale.
Ruspoli's work bridges personal narrative with philosophical inquiry, drawing heavily from his education under phenomenologist Hubert Dreyfus at University of California, Berkeley. His documentaries have been praised for their integration of existential phenomenology with contemporary cultural analysis, screening at major festivals and receiving critical acclaim. Since 2016, he has focused increasingly on community-based cultural projects in California's Salton Sea region, establishing The Bombay Beach Institute as well as permanent art installations and research programs that address environmental and social issues through creative intervention.
Currently based between Joshua Tree and Bombay Beach, California, Ruspoli works in filmmaking, podcasting, and cultural institution development, while serving as chairman of the Bombay Beach Institute and co-hosting the Being in the World podcast with neuroscientist Patrick House.