Gwangju Biennale 2021 Opens After Pandemic Delays with Focus on Indigenous Knowledge and Global Solidarity
The 13th Gwangju Biennale, titled Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning, opens on 1 April 2021 after two postponements due to COVID-19. Artistic directors Natasha Ginwala and Defne Ayas maintained their original conceptual framework despite pandemic disruptions, focusing on communal intelligence, surveillance, and dissent. The exhibition features 69 artists with 41 new commissions, exploring themes from indigenous knowledge and shamanism to algorithmic violence and queer desire. Practical challenges included suspended commissions, shipping price surges, and remote collaboration with artists worldwide. The biennale engages with the Gwangju Uprising's legacy while addressing contemporary issues like sexual violence in Korea and global protest movements. Online platforms and local audiences became crucial as international travel remained limited. The curators drew inspiration from thinkers like Catherine Malabou, Yuk Hui, and Ruha Benjamin. The exhibition runs through 9 May 2021 at multiple venues including the Gwangju Biennale Hall and Gwangju National Museum.
Key facts
- The 13th Gwangju Biennale opens 1 April 2021 after eight months of pandemic delays
- Artistic directors Natasha Ginwala and Defne Ayas curated 69 artists with 41 new commissions
- Themes include indigenous knowledge, shamanism, algorithmic violence, and queer desire
- COVID-19 caused suspended commissions, shipping disruptions, and remote collaboration challenges
- The biennale engages with the legacy of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising
- Local audiences and online platforms became essential due to travel restrictions
- Inspirations include Catherine Malabou, Yuk Hui, Ruha Benjamin, and Djamila Ribeiro
- The exhibition runs through 9 May 2021 at multiple Gwangju venues
Entities
Artists
- Natasha Ginwala
- Defne Ayas
- Cian Dayrit
- Ana Prvački
- Lynn Hershman Leeson
- Gala Porras-Kim
- Femke Herregraven
- Sissel Tolaas
- Korakrit Arunanondchai
- Ana María Millán
- Beaska Niillas
- Marian Pastor Roces
- Reem Abbas
- Huiyeon Choi
- ∞OS
- Haaweatea Holly Bryson
- Cecilia Vicuña
- Vaginal Davis
- Jacolby Satterwhite
- Brook Andrew
- Joowon Park
- Young-jun Tak
- Pacita Abad
- Cecilia Bengolea
- Yin-Ju Chen
- Hyuntaek Cho
- Patricia Domínguez
- John Gerrard
- Sonia Gomes
- Trajal Harrell
- Gözde Ilkin
- Sangdon Kim
- Sylbee Kim
- Liliane Lijn
- Candice Lin
- Emo de Medeiros
- Kira Nova
- Fernando Palma Rodríguez
- Outi Pieski
- Angelo Plessas
- Judy Radul
- Sahej Rahal
- Alexandra Sukhareva
- Shen Xin
- nasa4nasa
- Dmitry Paranyushkin
- Koo Des
- Katarina Barruk
- Farid Belkahia
- Seyni Camara
- Quishile Charan
- Esha Pillay
- Li-Chun Lin
- Ali Cherri
- Hyun-Taek Cho
- Theo Eshetu
- Gerard Fortuné
- Tishan Hsu
- Jeong Kwan
- Jumaadi
- Karrabing Film Collective
- Timoteus Anggawan Kusno
- Kwak Duck-Jun
- Gap-Chul Lee
- Kangseung Lee
- Sangho Lee
- Vivian Lynn
- Abu Bakarr Mansaray
- Angela Melitopoulos
- Min Joung-Ki
- Ad Minoliti
- Moon Kyungwon
- MOON & JEON
- Siyabonga Mthembu
- Pedro Neves Marques
- Rajni Perera
- Zofia Rydet
- Arpita Singh
- Tcheu Siong
- Chrysanne Stathacos
- Shannon Te Ao
- Ouattara Watts
- Tuguldur Yondonjamts
Institutions
- Gwangju Biennale Foundation
- ArtReview Asia
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard
- People's Archive of Rural India (PARI)
- Gwangju Women Link
- Gwangju National Museum
- MMCA
- Sydney Biennale
- Gwangju Biennale
- South Korean government
- People’s Archive of Rural India – PARI
- V-A-C Foundation
- Witte de With
- Gropius Bau
- Colomboscope
- Contour Biennale
- Documenta 14
- ArtReview
- BMW Group Culture
- artreview.com
Locations
- Gwangju
- South Korea
- Philippines
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- Hong Kong
- China
- Lebanon
- Tibet
- India
- Japan
- Mongolia
- Sápmi
- Sudan
- Chile
- Vietnam
- Jeju
- West Coast
- USA
- Harvard
- South Jeolla province
- Moscow
- Russia
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands
- Berlin
- Germany
- Sri Lanka
- Belgium
- Athens
- Greece
- Kassel