Gwangju Biennial and Gallery Weekend Beijing Postponed Due to COVID-19 Concerns

Due to COVID-19, two significant art events in Asia are experiencing delays. The Gwangju Biennial, scheduled to open in South Korea, has postponed its start from late February to April 1. Meanwhile, Gallery Weekend Beijing has shifted its dates from March to late April. Gwangju currently has 1,839 confirmed COVID-19 cases, equating to an infection rate of 126.25 per 100,000 individuals. This biennial, originally planned for 2020, marks the 30th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, which resulted in 2,000 fatalities. The exhibition, titled 'Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning,' is directed by Natasha Ginwala and Defne Ayas. Amber Yifei Wang, director of Gallery Weekend Beijing, noted that the postponement will help foster confidence in attending live events. In January, China reported over 2,000 COVID-19 cases, with 45 in Beijing.