Nicolas Bourriaud Curates Gwangju Biennale with Pansori Theme Exploring Space and Sound
The 15th Gwangju Biennale, titled 'Pansori: A Soundscape for the 21st Century,' is overseen by Nicolas Bourriaud, a French curator and co-founder of Palais de Tokyo in Paris. This exhibition, which runs from September 7 to December 1, delves into the concept of space through pansori, a traditional Korean musical genre originating in the late 17th century. Bourriaud highlights the local significance of the biennial, using pansori to explore issues related to voice, territory, and climate change. The exhibition unfolds like an operatic experience, showcasing works from artists such as Emeka Ogboh, Saâdane Afif, Mira Mann, and Marina Rosenfeld, while linking sound to spatial and political contexts, inspired by philosopher Vinciane Despret. Established to commemorate the 1980 pro-democracy uprising, the biennale features a mix of international and local artists, examining space through auditory landscapes.
Key facts
- The 15th Gwangju Biennale runs from September 7 to December 1.
- Curator Nicolas Bourriaud is a French theorist known for Relational Aesthetics and co-founding Palais de Tokyo.
- The theme 'Pansori: A Soundscape for the 21st Century' explores space through traditional Korean music.
- Pansori originated in late seventeenth-century southern Korea as shamanistic ritual music.
- The exhibition structure progresses from a claustrophobic tunnel to open spaces across five floors.
- Venues are concentrated in Gwangju's Yangnim neighborhood, including a former police station and abandoned house.
- Artists featured include Emeka Ogboh, Saâdane Afif, Mira Mann, Marina Rosenfeld, Hyewon Kwon, and Kandis Williams.
- The biennial was founded to commemorate Gwangju's 1980 pro-democracy uprising.
Entities
Artists
- Nicolas Bourriaud
- Emeka Ogboh
- Saâdane Afif
- Mira Mann
- Marina Rosenfeld
- Hyewon Kwon
- Kandis Williams
- Vinciane Despret
- Han Kang
- Haseeb Ahmed
- Deniz Aktaş
- Noel W. Anderson
- Andrius Arutiunian
- Kevin Beasley
- Wendimagegn Belete
- Bianca Bondi
- Dora Budor
- Peter Buggenhout
- Angela Bulloch
- Alex Cerveny
- Cheng Xinhao
- Choi Haneyl
- Gaëlle Choisne
- Anna Conway
- Binta Diaw
- John Dowell
- Hayden Dunham
- Liam Gillick
- Loris Gréaud
- Matthias Groebel
- Matthew Angelo Harrison
- Marguerite Humeau
- Agata Ingarden
- Hye Joo Jun
- Jun Hyoung San
- Kim Hyeong Suk
- Kim Jayi
- YoungEun Kim
- Dominique Knowles
- Agnieszka Kurant
- Netta Laufer
- Brianna Leatherbury
- Yein Lee
- Oswaldo Maciá
- Cinthia Marcelle
- Vladislav Markov
- Beaux Mendes
- Myriam Mihindou
- Na Mira
- Saadia Mirza
- David Noonan
- Katja Novitskova
- Josèfa Ntjam
- Frida Orupabo
- Lydia Ourahmane
- Mimi Park
- Philippe Parreno
- Amol K Patil
- Harrison Pearce
- Lucy Raven
- Tabita Rezaire
- Marina Rheingantz
- Max Hooper Schneider
- Franck Scurti
- Soomin Shon
- Jura Shust
- Marianna Simnett
- Sofya Skidan
- Anastasia Sosunova
- Jakob Kudsk Steensen
- Sung Tieu
- Julian Abraham 'Togar'
- Unmake Lab
- Yuyan Wang
- Ambera Wellmann
- Phillip Zach
- Amol K. Patil
- Julian Abraham “Togar”
- Sâadane Afif
- Julian Abraham Togar
- Cifika
- Laure Mafo
- Michael Joo
- An Gyeon
- Prince Anpyeong
- Virginia Woolf
Institutions
- Gwangju Biennale
- ArtReview
- Palais de Tokyo
- Korea Arts Management Service
- Gwangju Biennale Foundation
- WeMu
- Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall
- Artribune
Locations
- Gwangju
- South Korea
- Paris
- France
- Lagos
- Nigeria
- Jeju Island
- Yangnim
- Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall
- Yangnim-dong
- Venice
- Italy
- Korea
- YangNim
- Brazil
- Japan