Berlin Biennale 2025 Review: Curator Zasha Colah's Politicized Exhibition Faces German Silence on Gaza
The 13th Berlin Biennale, overseen by curator Zasha Colah, commenced against the backdrop of Germany's stringent political environment regarding dissent about Israel, leading to a significant absence of discourse on Gaza. Entitled 'passing the fugitive on,' the exhibition delves into themes of resistance through humor and transience, represented by a fox. Spanning four locations—KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Sophiensæle, a former courthouse, and Hamburger Bahnhof—more than 60 artists confront global issues. Noteworthy pieces include Han Bing & Kashmiri Cabbage Walker's performance centered on Kashmir, Htein Lin's video addressing Myanmar, and Sawangwongse Yawnghwe's examination of arms trading. The biennale will continue until September 14, 2025, yet its exclusion of Gaza and Ukraine highlights the limitations of art in oppressive environments.
Key facts
- The 13th Berlin Biennale is curated by Zasha Colah and titled 'passing the fugitive on.'
- It features over 60 artists and more than 170 works across four venues in Berlin.
- The exhibition runs through September 14, 2025.
- A key theme is resistance through ephemerality, humor, and poetry, symbolized by a fox.
- German institutions face political restrictions on criticism of Israel, leading to silence on Gaza in the biennale.
- Venues include KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Sophiensæle, a former courthouse on Lehrter Straße, and Hamburger Bahnhof.
- Works address conflicts in Kashmir, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, India, and Argentina, among others.
- Notable artists include Han Bing, Kashmiri Cabbage Walker, Htein Lin, Sawangwongse Yawnghwe, and Jane Jin Kaisen.
Entities
Artists
- Zasha Colah
- Han Bing
- Kashmiri Cabbage Walker
- Cristina ‘Kikí’ Roca
- Piero Gilardi
- Htein Lin
- Sawangwongse Yawnghwe
- Amol K Patil
- Daniel Gustav Cramer
- Anna Scalfi Eghenter
- Karl Liebknecht
- Jane Jin Kaisen
- Zamthingla Ruivah Shimray
- Luingamla Muiano
- Gabriel Alarcón
Institutions
- Berlin Biennale
- KW Institute for Contemporary Art
- Sophiensæle
- Hamburger Bahnhof
- Artcom Platform
- ArtReview
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Gaza
- Palestine
- Mumbai
- India
- Kashmir
- Pakistan
- Myanmar
- Argentina
- Death Valley
- United States
- Kazakhstan
- Lake Balkhash
- Ukraine
- Jeju Island
- South Korea
- Chile
- Bolivia
- Lithium Triangle