Clara Kim, Gridthiya Gaweewong, Rita Gonzalez, Christine Y. Kim, Yeon Shim Chung, Yeewan Koon, Man Seok Kim, Sung woo Kim, Chong-Ok Paek , B.G. Muhn, David Teh (from left to right). photoⒸGwangju Biennale

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Venue : Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall and Asia Culture Center (Gwangju)

7 SEP - 11 NOV 2018

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The 12th Gwangju Biennale will explore the theme of ‘Imagined Borders,’ presented by the Gwangju Biennale Foundation(President Sunjung Kim) proposing responses to the current atmosphere of change and uncertainty experienced worldwide. The Biennale will comprise seven exhibitions curated by 11 curators spread across the city of Gwangju. Artists will respond to the concept of borders as historical and real, experiential and abstract, imaginary and transgressive.

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Confronting critical issues surrounding globalization, cold wars, asylum seekers, migration and development, Imagined Borders will seek to amplify contemporary political and social issues through the representation of artists and collectives from around the world.

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This year will see the launch of a series of institutional partnerships for the Gwangju Biennale, titled The 'Pavilion Project.' Occupying historic and cultural locations across the city of Gwangju, The Pavilion Project will present a series of satellite exhibitions from leading international institutions including Palais de Tokyo, the Helsinki International Artist Programme and the Philippine Contemporary Art Network. The Pavilion Project will be a forum for exchange and debate between countries, as these institutions present the work of emerging artists from their home countries and Korea.

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Following the Gwangju Biennale’s tradition for showcasing the best in contemporary Asian art, this edition will see the greatest number of Korean artists including the exhibition of contemporary Chosunhwa paintings from North Korea, becoming a platform to discover new artists and to challenge the divisions across the region. Curated by B.G. Muhn, professor of painting and drawing at Georgetown University, the North Korean art section will feature works produced in the Mansudae Art Studio in Pyeonyang by 31 painters in the Chosunhwa style, combining modern and traditional techniques. The exhibition will examine the current division of the Korean peninsula, opening a forum for discussions on socialism and realism within the arts.

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The 12th edition of the Gwangju Biennale will also see the launch of a monumental new program, the GB Commission which will bring together four international contemporary artists including Adrián Villar Rojas and Mike Nelson to devise site specific artwork exploring the history of the city of Gwangju and advocating for democracy, human rights and peace to a global community. The GB Commission will expand on the history and spirit of Gwangju through the visual arts.

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Multiple curators from the UK to LA, Singapore to Seoul have brought their diverse perspectives and expertise to the Biennale and collaborated on projects inspired by the concept of Imagined Borders. Based on their expertise in sociology, politics, migration and the refugee experience, the curators confirmed a list of 153 participating artists within seven thematic exhibitions and the GB Commission which will reflect contemporary society and amplify the level of diverse voices in the cultural community. Highlights of the presentation will include the Cuban artist collective Los Carpinteros; Belgian-born and Mexico-based artist Francis Alÿs, Jordan-based curator and artist Ala Younis who devised the first Kuwait Pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale, and French artist based between Berlin and Algeria, Kader Attia, whose work explores the legacy of migration, colonialism and trade to interrogate the idea of a collective cultural memory.

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Reflecting its position as the largest Asian Biennale to explore the history of Asian identity and values, this year’s edition of the Gwangju Biennale will see the greatest number of Asian artists participating so far, with 66% of the artists coming from Asia. Artists from South America and the Middle East are also represented, continuing the Gwangju Biennale’s founding ideologies of breaking away from Eurocentric discussions and presenting issues from regional and marginal borderlines to trigger a shift from the central axis of contemporary art.

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The increase in global visibility for Asian artists is represented through this expanded program of artists from across the continent; including Thailand-born filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival; Shilpa Gupta who explores Asian identity in his work; Ho Tzu Nyen whose Singapore Pavilion at the 2011 Venice Biennale brought an immersive, panoramic view of pre-colonial Singapore to the Italian island; and Yoshimoto Nara, pioneer of Japanese pop art will participate in this year’s Gwangju Biennale.

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Los Carpinteros, 〈Sala de Lectura Coppelia〉 (prototipo), 2013. Corten Steel 38,4 x 132,1 x 132,1cm ⒸLos Carpinteros ⒸEduardo Morera, Selected by Clara Kim

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Zach Blas, 〈Jubilee 2033〉 (still), 2017. Film. Commissioned by Gasworks; Art in General, New York; and MU, Eindhoven. ⒸZach Blas, Selected by Christine Y. Kim & Rita Gonzalez

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Nipan Oranniwesna,〈The storm continues to rage outside and the wind sweeps relentlessly across the land from the same direction〉, 2014-2015. Video, 35:05 mins (English subtitle) ⒸNipan Oranniwesna, Selected by Gridthiya Gaweewong

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Chen Wei,〈In the Waves #4〉, 2013. archival inkjet print, 150×187.5cm ⒸChen Wei Studio, Selected by Yeon Shim Chung & Yeewan Koon

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Agatha Gothe-Snape, 〈Every Artist Remembered with Richard Wentworth〉, 2017. Posca pen on Fabriano Artistico paper, 180 x 140 cm photoⒸSofia Freeman/The Commercial, ImageⒸThe Commercial, Sydney, Selected by David Teh

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SangHee Yeo, 〈Land made of tombstone〉, 2018. newspapers, dimensions variable ⒸSangHee Yeo, Selected by Man Seok Kim

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RohwaJeong, 〈Self-portrait 2016〉, 2016. brass, chain, dimensions variable ⒸRohwaJeong, Selected by Sung woo Kim

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Sunghong Min, 〈Overlapped sensibility Carousel〉, 2017-18. ceramic, mixed media, ⒸSunghong Min, Selected by Chong-Ok Paek

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Choe Chang Ho, 〈A Worker〉, 2014. Chosonhwa, 98x70cm ⒸChoe Chang Ho, Selected by B.G. Muhn

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Futher information:
W. http://www.kwangjubiennale.org
T. +44 (0) 20 7183 3577

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