Lyon Biennale's Floating Worlds juxtaposes modern and contemporary works across three venues

The 14th Lyon Biennale, named Floating Worlds, took place in Lyon, France, from 20 September 2017 to 7 January 2018, under the curation of Emma Lavigne. Artistic director Thierry Raspail's interpretation of 'modern' was central to the exhibition, which was held at MAC, La Sucrière, and a geodesic dome. At MAC, visitors encountered both early-twentieth-century and contemporary art, including Ernesto Neto's 2007 textile installation and Yuko Mohri's 2017 piece. Sound works featured compositions by Terry Riley and Philip Corner. La Sucrière showcased modern pieces such as David Medalla's foam sculpture and Bruce Conner's 1976 video. Although Lavigne referenced Zygmunt Bauman's concept of 'liquid modernity,' the exhibition often leaned towards traditional themes, neglecting contemporary identity and social issues.