15 Oct 2012

Biennial Foundation presents the World Biennial Forum No 1, 27-31 October 2012, in collaboration with the Gwangju Biennale Foundation in Gwangju, South-Korea.

Biennial Foundation presents:

World Biennial Forum No 1:
Shifting Gravity

Gwangju, South Korea, 27-31 October 2012

Organized by:
Gwangju Biennale Foundation
Biennial Foundation
i.f.a. Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen

Co-directed by:
Ute Meta Bauer
Hou Hanru

Initiated by: Biennial Foundation

While most Western countries are experiencing fiscal austerity and slower growth, some of the emerging nations within the Asian continent are handling the strong forces of rapid progression. For centuries the West used to be the economical and cultural center of attention. Now there is an important shift of focus to Asia, a continent that has seen vibrant and innovative developments undergoing economic, cultural and social change, whilst its population calling for more open and democratic structures within society.

The rapid expanding activities in contemporary art and the rising number of biennials established in Asia during the last two decades has implications for the construction of contemporary art history. How can we undo the teleologies of Euro-centric modernity? Do art biennials inspire and strengthen art communities and help to lay foundations for sustainable infrastructures? Facing increasingly homogenic and universal models of traditional art institutions, are biennials still alternative and sites for experimentation capable of resistance?

The World Biennial Forum No 1 will present keynotes speeches by:

Wang Hui, Professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at the Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Nikos Papastergiadis, Professor for Cultural Studies and Media & Communications at the University of Melbourne.
Chantal Mouffe, Professor of Political Theory and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster, London.

Hans-Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director, Exhibitions and Programmes, and Director of International Projects, Serpentine Gallery (London) in public conversation with Moon Kyung Won and Chun Jun Ho.

Case study presentations of a wide range of biennales throughout Asia will be introduced, aiming to broaden the understanding of the specificity of each context, the conditions of production and the conceptual discourses they generate.

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