Taiwan Pavilion opens at Gwangju Biennale amid naming controversy

Gwangju, South Korea, witnessed the opening of the Taiwan Pavilion at the 16th Gwangju Biennale on Saturday, despite initial naming disputes. The biennial, a significant contemporary art event in Asia, includes a main exhibition and various national and institutional pavilions from across the continent. The Taiwan Pavilion, originally named Taiwan Pavilion, was later renamed to NTMoFA Pavilion after facing opposition from Taiwan's culture ministry.

This prompted a reversal of the decision by Gwangju Biennale Foundation, who approved the use of Taiwan Pavilion. The change met with disapproval from China, whose ambassador to South Korea, Dai Bing, expressed regret and concern to Gwangju Mayor Min Hyung-bae. China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, halted the installation work of artists representing the China Pavilion in protest.

Despite the setback, Chen Kuang-Yi, director of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA), expressed relief that the original name was retained. The pavilion's exhibition, titled "Instance Dungeons: Gray Zone," delves into geopolitical tensions and uncertainty, drawing from video game terminology to describe isolated levels that players can repeatedly visit.

The works of artists like Cheng Hsien-Yu, Lin Yu-Liang, Li Yi-Fan, and Su Hui-Yu will be featured. The biennale organizers remain optimistic about the eventual return of Chinese artists.