Shanghai Biennale's 'Bodies of Water' Critiqued as Bland Despite Ambitious Pandemic Adaptation
The 13th Shanghai Biennale, named 'Bodies of Water,' commenced in April 2021 after facing delays and continued until July 25, 2021, at the Power Station of Art. Under the direction of Andrés Jaque, the event showcased 76 artworks, including 33 newly commissioned pieces. During the postponement, online activities garnered minimal interest from local audiences. The emphasis on water and ecosystems received criticism for being too specific and inclusive, which diluted the impact of individual pieces. Among the highlights was Carlos Irijalba's 'Amphibia' (2021). In contrast to the politically charged 12th biennale led by Cuauhtémoc Medina, this edition, despite featuring Ana Mendieta's 'Silueta de Arena' (1975), fell short in digital innovation. Revital Cohen and Tuur Van Balen's 'The Odds (Part 1)' (2019) underscored arbitrary connections, mirroring conservative trends in the art world.
Key facts
- The 13th Shanghai Biennale 'Bodies of Water' opened in April 2021 after pandemic delays
- Directed by Spanish architect Andrés Jaque
- Features 76 works including 33 new commissions
- Runs until 25 July 2021 at Power Station of Art and other venues
- Previous edition directed by Mexican curator Cuauhtémoc Medina was more politically charged
- Includes works by artists like Carlos Irijalba, Ana Mendieta, and Vera Frenkel
- Criticized for lacking digital innovation despite pandemic adaptations
- Review published on ArtReview website
Entities
Artists
- Andrés Jaque
- Cuauhtémoc Medina
- Enrique Ježik
- Fernando Sánchez Castillo
- Carlos Irijalba
- Cao Minghao
- Chen Jianjun
- Ana Mendieta
- Vera Frenkel
- Revital Cohen
- Tuur Van Balen
- Vladimir Lenin
- Alberto Baraya
- Antoni Muntadas
- Astrida Neimanis
- Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor
- Clare Britton
- Ayesha Tan Jones
- Carlos Casas
- Cecilia Vicuña
- Cheng Xinyi
- Daniel Fernández Pascual
- Alon Schwabe
- Dai Chenlian
- Andrés Fernández
- José Manuel Egea
- Miguel García
- María Lapastora
- Belén Sánchez
- Emil Rønn Andersen
- Diane Severin Nguyen
- Feliciano Centurión
- Guo Fengyi
- Heather Phillipson
- Himali Singh Soin
- David Soin Tappeser
- Ibiye Camp
- Itziar Okariz
- Jenna Sutela
- Joan Jonas
- Kyriaki Goni
- Liam Young
- Michael Wang
- Nerea Calvillo
- Basse Stittgen
- Pan Daijing
- Pepe Espaliú
- Pu Yingwei
- Sun Xiaoxing
- Qiu Zhen
- Zhao Kunfang
- Huang Siyao
- Tabita Rézaire
- Torkwase Dyson
- Amale Andraos
- Dan Wood
- Zadie Xa
- Benito Mayor Vallejo
- Royce Ng
- Daisy Bisenieks
Institutions
- Shanghai Biennale
- Power Station of Art
- ArtReview
- C+ arquitectas
- WORKac
- RISD
- Cooking Sections
- Debajo del Sombrero
- Diakron
- Hylozoic/Desires
- Karrabing Film Collective
- C+arquitectas
- ReUnion X DMAS
- Zheng Mahler
Locations
- Shanghai
- China
- Anhui
- Beijing
- Yangtze River
- Huangpu River
- Yangtze Delta
- Spain
- Mexico
- Argentina
- New York
- Las Vegas