Biennalocene Webinar Explores Biennial Labour and Curatorial Responsibility
The Institute of Radical Imagination in Venice coined the term 'Biennalocene' to critique cultural labour conditions within the biennial ecosystem. A free webinar on 25 May 2026 at 3PM BST will bring together four biennials—BIENALSUR, Bukhara Biennial 2025, 13th Berlin Biennale 2025, and Malta Biennale 2024—to discuss curatorial responsibility, infrastructure, and value production. Speakers include Diana Wechsler (Artistic Director, BIENALSUR), Timur Zolotoev (Assistant Curator, Bukhara Biennial), Valentina Viviani (Assistant Curator, 13th Berlin Biennale), and moderator Sofia Baldi Pighi (Artistic Director, Malta Biennale). The session will compare funding, thematic frameworks, community engagement, and public experience, aiming to transform biennials from event-based formats into infrastructures of shared responsibility.
Key facts
- Webinar titled 'Biennalocene – Labour, Infrastructures & Curatorial Responsibility' hosted by IKT.
- Occurs on Monday, 25 May 2026 at 3PM BST (4PM CEST / 10AM EDT) via Zoom.
- Free admission with registration required.
- Term 'Biennalocene' developed by Institute of Radical Imagination in Venice.
- Four biennials featured: BIENALSUR, Bukhara Biennial 2025, 13th Berlin Biennale 2025, Malta Biennale 2024.
- BIENALSUR led by Diana Wechsler since 2015; decentralised transnational model.
- Bukhara Biennial 2025 titled 'Recipes for Broken Hearts'; commissioned by Gayane Umerova, curated by Diana Campbell, assisted by Timur Zolotoev.
- 13th Berlin Biennale 2025 titled 'passing the fugitive on'; curated by Zasha Colah and Valentina Viviani.
- Malta Biennale 2024 titled 'Insulaphilia'; directed by Sofia Baldi Pighi.
- Discussion will cover funding structures, thematic frameworks, exhibition formats, community engagement, and public experience.
Entities
Artists
- Diana Wechsler
- Timur Zolotoev
- Valentina Viviani
- Sofia Baldi Pighi
- Gayane Umerova
- Diana Campbell
- Zasha Colah
Institutions
- Institute of Radical Imagination
- IKT
- Biennial Foundation
- BIENALSUR
- Bukhara Biennial 2025
- Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation
- 13th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art 2025
- Malta Biennale 2024
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Central Asia
- Bukhara
- Uzbekistan
- Berlin
- Germany
- Malta
- Mediterranean