Istanbul Biennial 2019 Explores Waste Crisis Under Bourriaud

The 16th Istanbul Biennial, curated by Nicolas Bourriaud and opening in September 2019, centers on humanity's environmental impact, specifically the waste emergency. Bourriaud frames the theme around the 'seventh continent' of plastic and non-recyclable waste, which he calls the 'unconscious of our economies.' He selected artists who analyze contemporary times, document the collapse of human/non-human hierarchies, or reinvent spirituality. The Biennial collaborates with environmental NGOs and will have a follow-up at Montpellier Contemporain, where Bourriaud also directs. Venues include Pera Museum and Büyükada island. Notable participating artists include Luigi Serafini, Glauco Rodrigues (at Pera Museum), and Norman Daly, whose works have not been exhibited since 1974. Bourriaud distinguishes art from activism, stating art offers a deeper understanding of reality. He notes that Istanbul's recent election of a liberal mayor in June 2019 is changing the city's cultural scene. Bourriaud is also writing a book on the Anthropocene's impact on contemporary art, building on his curatorial work since 'La grande accélération' in Taipei in 2014.