ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Second Yinchuan Biennale reveals 90-artist lineup for desert ecology exhibition

festival-fair · 2026-04-20

MOCA Yinchuan will host the Second Yinchuan Biennale starting June 9, 2018. Titled 'Starting from the Desert. Ecologies on the Edge,' the exhibition explores Silk Road geographies through an archaeological lens. Artistic director Marco Scotini leads a curatorial team including Andris Brinkmanis, Paolo Caffoni, Zasha Colah, and Lu Xinghua. Ninety artists from over thirty regions will participate, with special emphasis on Mongolia, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. The biennale's four thematic sections examine nomadic spaces, labor dynamics, knowledge production, and minority identities. Ancient artifacts from public museums and private collections will be displayed alongside newly commissioned works. Participating artists range from historical figures like Giuseppe Castiglione to contemporary practitioners such as Xu Bing and Kimsooja. The event focuses on concepts of hybridization, geo-economics, and macro-societal structures within desert environments.

Key facts

  • Biennale opens June 9, 2018 at MOCA Yinchuan
  • Features 90 artists from over 30 regions
  • Artistic director is Marco Scotini
  • Curatorial team includes Andris Brinkmanis, Paolo Caffoni, Zasha Colah, Lu Xinghua
  • Theme: 'Starting from the Desert. Ecologies on the Edge'
  • Four thematic sections: Nomadic Space and Rural Space, Labor-in-Nature and Nature-in-Labor, The Voice and The Book, Minorities and Multiplicity
  • Includes ancient artifacts and newly commissioned works
  • Focus on Mongolia, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • MOCA Yinchuan
  • Jiaoxi Culture Station
  • Grupo Suma
  • WUXU Group
  • u-ra-mi-li
  • Yinchuan Biennale
  • Guggenheim
  • Ningxia National Museum
  • Chengtian Temple Pagoda
  • Artribune
  • One Belt One Road
  • FM Centro per l'Arte Contemporanea di Milano
  • waa (we architech anonymous)
  • Yinchuan International Artist Village
  • Mousse Agency
  • NASA

Locations

  • Yinchuan
  • China
  • Mongolia
  • Central Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • Gobi Desert
  • Singapore
  • Italy
  • Belgrade
  • Istanbul
  • Bishkek
  • Tehran
  • Kabul
  • Eurasian steppe
  • Taklamakan Desert
  • Gansu
  • Ningxia
  • Xi'an
  • Serbia
  • Turkey
  • Dagestan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Afghanistan
  • Indonesia
  • Ulaanbaatar
  • Huxian
  • India
  • Chhattisgarh
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Milan
  • Silk Road
  • Venice
  • North Africa
  • Caucasus
  • Yellow River

Sources