The Chengdu biennale organization committee is established through the efforts of CCP Chengdu Propaganda Department and various cultural and art enthusiastic institutes are involved. Among which Chengdu Xingcheng Investment Co., Ltd. sponsors International Architecture Exhibition, Chengdu Media Culture Investment Co., Ltd. sponsors International Design Exhibition, Institutions of Chinart sponsors Art Exhibition and ETG Group sponsors Conference Center Exhibition, along with governmental supportive subsidies, a total sum of 35.3 million was invested in this edition, which reaches the highest in history.
Based on previous biennales, 2011 Chengdu Biennale absorbed operation modes of major international biennials. Seeking to present a high-level international art pageant, about 200 artists from dozen countries and regions of Europe, America and Asia participated in the exhibition.
The following Chengdu Biennales (from 2001) have taken place:
In 2001, the 1st Biennale “Model-on the shelf” invited 120 artists to participate, mainly paintings on the easel.
In 2005, the 2nd Biennale “Century and Paradise” was internationalized, inviting 15–20 foreign artists to participate. It was held in the New International Convention Center, Chengdu Century City.
In 2007, the 3rd Chengdu Biennale “Restart” its curatorial team, including domestic curators Feng Bin and Lu Hong, cooperating with Britta Erickson and Shen Kuiyi from the United States.
In 2009, the 4th Chengdu Biennale had “A Narrative of China” as the theme, with Jia Fangzhou and Zou Yuejin as curators, 120 participating artists, 271 works involving oil painting, ink painting, photography, video, sculpture, and installations. This exhibition was divided into five sub-themes: “2008”, “History”, “Reality”, “Urban” and “Rural”.
In 2011, the 5th Chengdu Biennale invited Lü Peng as the chief curator, named “Looking for Colors and Continuing,” including contemporary art, design, and architecture. Two hundred artists from China and abroad participate in this exhibition. This time, the event learned lessons from the model of the Venice Biennale, one theme exhibition with other special invested exhibition held on 16 local art museums, which successfully attracted approximately 280,000 visitors. The right to operate the Chengdu Biennale was taken over by the Government.
In 2013, the 6th Chengdu Biennale invited Feng Bin and Zhao Li as curators, consisting of two parts: “Relation” and “Young Artists of Ten Years”.
The event was not held as scheduled in 2015.
Source: www.chengdubiennale.art