Gwangju Biennale Reverses Decision, Approves 'Taiwan Pavilion' Name After Dispute

The Gwangju Biennale Foundation (GBF) has designated 'Taiwan Pavilion' as the name for a satellite exhibition at the 16th Gwangju Biennale, which will take place from 5 September to 15 November. This announcement, made on 25 August, comes after a ten-day controversy regarding the pavilion's previous title, 'NTMoFA Pavilion,' named after the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA). Curator Chen Xiang-Wen and nine artists claimed the GBF had changed the name without consent. Taiwan's ministry of culture confirmed that the country would participate under the 'Taiwan Pavilion' name, citing previous agreements. Although the GBF did not provide specific reasons for the change, it noted ongoing talks about promotional materials. Taiwan often faces international participation limitations due to its lack of formal recognition.