Gwangju Biennale ponders theme of change through works by 43 teams

The 16th Gwangju Biennale, an art exhibition in Gwangju, South Korea, will commence this weekend, featuring 43 teams of artists from South Korea and abroad. The theme of transformation as a continuous process will be explored through works inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke's 1908 poem "Archaic Torso of Apollo," which concludes with the line "You must change your life."

The exhibition, running from Saturday through November 5, will immerse viewers in featured works displayed within a single venue, as opposed to being spread across the city. Notable artists include Mona Benyamin, Angela Goh, Daisuke Kosugi, Kim Sun-ik and James T. Hong. The Volcanoes of Jeju, or Jeju Stone Park, will showcase volcanic stones from the southern resort island, engraved with the explosive eruptions of volcanoes and the subsequent millennia.

The Biennale's Pavilion Project, introduced in 2018 to foster artistic exchange, was intended to feature 16 countries and 11 institutions. However, the project has faced a setback due to a controversy over the use of the name Taiwan Pavilion, leading Chinese artists to withdraw in protest.