2016 Sydney Biennale Explores Uneven Technological Futures Through Virtual Reality and Social Justice
The 20th Biennale of Sydney, under the theme 'The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed,' took place from 18 March to 5 June 2016, with Stephanie Rosenthal as the curator. It highlighted 'Embassies of Thought' and showcased significant works such as Cécile B. Evans's virtual reality installation Preamble (2016) on Cockatoo Island. The event focused on issues of technological progress and resource disparity, featuring Richard Bell's Embassy (2013–) and Keg de Souza's We Built This City (2016). Key locations included Carriageworks and Cockatoo Island, which displayed works by Lee Bul and William Forsythe. Prominent artists included Korakrit Arunanondchai, Camille Henrot, Charwei Tsai, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, addressing topics like digital ghosts, indigenous rights, and urban gentrification.
Key facts
- Biennale ran 18 March – 5 June 2016 in Sydney
- Curated by Stephanie Rosenthal
- Title quotes William Gibson
- Featured virtual reality work Preamble by Cécile B. Evans
- Included Aboriginal Tent Embassy reinstatement by Richard Bell
- Major venues: Carriageworks and Cockatoo Island
- Organized into thematic 'Embassies of Thought'
- Addressed technology and unequal resource distribution
Entities
Artists
- Cécile B. Evans
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Korakrit Arunanondchai
- Keg de Souza
- Richard Bell
- Lee Bul
- William Forsythe
- Camille Henrot
- Charwei Tsai
- Karen Mirza
- Brad Butler
- Apichatpong Weerasethakul
- Minouk Lim
- Norman Mejía
Institutions
- Biennale of Sydney
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Carriageworks
- ArtReview
- Aboriginal Tent Embassy
- Redfern School of Displacement
- Venice Biennale
Locations
- Sydney
- Australia
- Cockatoo Island
- Dog Leg Tunnel
- Sydney Harbour
- Redfern
- Canberra
- Mortuary Station
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Egypt
- Colombia
- South Korea
- Tibet