Busan Biennale 2020 Opens with Literary Framework Amid Pandemic
The Busan Biennale 2020, titled 'Words at an Exhibition,' will commence in September and run until November 8. This installment is a prominent cultural event in Asia this autumn, directed by Jacob Fabricius from Kunsthal Aarhus. It features contributions from 11 writers—eight hailing from Korea and three from Denmark, Colombia, and the United States—who drew inspiration from the city during their visit in late 2019. The exhibition showcases the creative interpretations of these texts by 67 artists and 11 musicians, with key venues including the Museum of Contemporary Art Busan and the historic Old Town.
Key facts
- Busan Biennale 2020 titled 'Words at an Exhibition: an exhibition in ten chapters and five poems'
- Directed by Jacob Fabricius, artistic director of Kunsthal Aarhus
- 11 writers commissioned: 8 Korean, 3 from Denmark, Colombia, USA
- 67 artists and 11 musicians create works in response to texts
- Concept inspired by Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition'
- Venues: MOCA Busan, Old Town spaces, Yeongdo harbour warehouse
- Open calls to citizens: 842 participants shared scent and sound memories
- Only non-Korean artist Bianca Bondi chose to undergo quarantine
- Runs through November 8
Entities
Artists
- Jacob Fabricius
- Kim Gordon
- Francesc Ruiz
- Gerry Bibby
- Robert Zhao Renhui
- Lasse Krogh Møller
- Louise Hervé
- Clovis Maillet
- Zai Tang
- Rei Hayama
- Mercedes Azpillicueta
- Dave Hullfish Bailey
- Inger Wold Lund
- Angelica Mesiti
- Nicolas Boone
- Sara Deraedt
- Jean Katambayi Mukendi
- Stephan Dillemuth
- Bianca Bondi
- Nho Wonhee
- Suh Yongsun
- Hannah Black
- Amalie Smith
- Mark von Schlegell
- Andrés Felipe Solano
- Kim Un-su
- Say Sue Me
- Kim Ildu
- J-Tong
- Jinjah
- Modest Mussorgsky
- Roman Jakobson
- Umberto Eco
Institutions
- Kunsthal Aarhus
- MOCA Busan
- Busan Biennale
- Literary Translation Institute of Korea
- ArtReview Asia
- Totatoga
Locations
- Busan
- South Korea
- Denmark
- Colombia
- USA
- Yeongdo harbour
- Old Town
- Gwangju
- North Korea
- DMZ
- Los Angeles
- Paris
- Aarhus