Busan Biennale 2014 Critiqued for Curatorial Disconnect and Local Artist Exclusion
The 2014 Busan Biennale, named 'Inhabiting the World' and curated by Olivier Kaeppelin, explored global issues through artistic expression at the Busan Museum of Art in South Korea. It encompassed seven subthemes: 'Movement', 'The Cosmos and the Sky', 'Architecture and Object’s Mobility', 'Identities Represented', 'Animal’s Dialogue', 'The History, The War', and 'Nature As Witness'. Some critics pointed out a lack of coherence, while significant pieces included Art Orienté Objet's 'May the Horse Live in Me' (2011), Jitish Kallat's 'Breathe' (2012), and Kimsooja's 'To Breathe: Mandala' (2010). Tensions between Kaeppelin and the local art community were evident through protests. Additional programming included 'Voyage to Biennale' and 'Going, Going, Until I Meet the Tide'. ArtReview Asia's Spring 2015 issue commented on the biennial's failure to challenge the museum's spatial dynamics.
Key facts
- The 2014 Busan Biennale was titled 'Inhabiting the World' and held at Busan Museum of Art in Busan, South Korea.
- Artistic director Olivier Kaeppelin curated the biennial to address global crises through art, organizing it into seven subthemes.
- Notable artworks included Art Orienté Objet's 'May the Horse Live in Me' (2011), Jitish Kallat's 'Breathe' (2012), and Kimsooja's 'To Breathe: Mandala' (2010).
- The biennial faced criticism for lack of focus, traditional aesthetics, and tensions between the organizer and local art scene.
- Protests occurred over Kaeppelin's selection process, with few Korean artists at the preview compared to many French-speaking artists.
- Additional events included 'Voyage to Biennale' at Busan Cultural Center and 'Going, Going, Until I Meet the Tide' at KISWIRE Sooyoung Factory.
- The biennial was reviewed in ArtReview Asia's Spring 2015 issue, highlighting issues in Asian city biennials.
- The Busan Youth Biennale, founded in 1981 by local artists, preceded the Busan Biennale.
Entities
Artists
- Olivier Kaeppelin
- Art Orienté Objet
- Jitish Kallat
- Kimsooja
- John Masefield
Institutions
- Busan Biennale
- Busan Museum of Art
- ArtReview Asia
- Busan Cultural Center
- KISWIRE Sooyoung Factory
- Busan Youth Biennale
Locations
- Busan
- South Korea
- Korea
- Japan
- China
- Singapore