Introducing the 2024 Gwangju Biennale

Pansori, a Soundscape of the 21st Century

By Kang Hyunsuk “Jennis”

The 15th Gwangju Biennale, opening in September, will feature thirty one unique pavilions, including contemporary art exhibitions across cultural venues in the city of Gwangju. The highly anticipated event will take place for 86 days, from September 7 to December 1.

Established in 1994 to commemorate the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the 50-year anniversary of Korea’s liberation, the Gwangju Biennale is now one of the leading art biennales in Asia. The Biennale fosters international cultural exchange and discourse on contemporary art, embodying the “Gwangju Spirit,” which encompasses the principles of revolution, democracy, and community. Over the past three decades, the Gwangju Biennale has challenged Western-centric art narratives, celebrated cultural diversity, and tackled global issues, such as climate change, race, gender, and democracy.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Biennale’s pavilions will unfold across a variety of locations in Gwangju, including art museums, galleries, cultural institutions, and everyday venues frequented by local residents, as well as sites associated with Gwangju’s history, such as the May 18 Archives and the May 18 Memorial Culture Center. The Biennale provides a platform for domestic and international art and cultural institutions to connect, exchange ideas, and curate exhibitions and performances that reflect the global contemporary art scene. 

For 30 years, the Gwangju Biennale has been a beacon of diversity and complexity. Having grown from a local city event to an influential sensation across Korea, Asia, and the global community, it aims to continuously introduce innovative themes that enrich discourse around civilization.

The Gwangju Biennale has tackled global issues such as climate change, race, gender, and democracy, striving to reshape the future of humanity from a planetary perspective and crossing geographical boundaries. Extending beyond a chronological recounting of the Gwangju Biennale’s history, the curatorial vision of the exhibition aims to reaffirm the Biennale’s contemporary relevance by delving into the essence of the “Gwangju Spirit.”

Artistic Director Nicolas Bourriaud titled the 15th Gwangju Biennale “Pansori, a Soundscape of the 21st Century.” Pansori is a form of music originating from southwestern Korea in the 17th century.  The meaning of the name itself is “the sound of the public place,” or in other words, “the voice of the common people.” The Biennale aims to build a narrative on the spaces we live in, in the same way as pansori singers practice storytelling with an epic lyrical style, accompanied by drumming in which different beats are related to specific regions of Korea.

Proposing a journey into contemporary space, the Biennale will gather artists whose works reflect our new spatial conditions and the upheavals of the Anthropocene. To draw a topology of our times, the exhibition will take an operatic shape, structured by musical metaphors. “Pansori, a Soundscape of the 21st Century” presents itself as a visual symphony composed by international artists.

Compared to past renditions, the 2024 Gwangju Biennale’s scale and number of participating institutions has steadily grown. The 15th Biennale’s pavilions will be spread throughout Gwangju, including areas such as Yangnim-dong and Dongmyeong-dong. It is hoped that many Gwangju residents and out-of-town visitors will enjoy the soundscape of the Gwangju Biennale.

The Biennale Main Exhibitions

Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall, Yangnim Culture Center, Podonamu Art Space, Han Boo Chul Gallery, Han Hee Won Museun of Art, Yangnim Salon, Yangnim Old Police Station, Empty House, and Horanggasinamu Art Polygon

These are the venues of the pavilions of this year’s Gwangju Biennale with visiting times (in parentheses are the exhibiting countries and/or associations).

The Biennale Pavilions

  1. Africa: Gwangju Arts Center Annex Building
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  2. Argentina: The 5.18 Archives
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  3. Austria: Leekangha Art Museum
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  4. Canada: Yangrim Gallery
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  5. CDA Holon: Miro Center
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
    6.China: Geumbong Museum
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  6. Denmark: Seeum
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays
  7. Germany: Gwangju History and Folk Museum
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  8. Finland [British Council–Korea Foundation]:
    Ha Jung-woong Museum of Art
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  9. Italy: Dong-gok Art Museum
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  10. Japan: Gallery of Laam
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and holidays
  11. Japan: Gallery Hyeyum
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  12. Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,
    Thailand, Vietnam [ASEAN-Korea Center];
    Indonesia [Korea Foundation–Gwangju Biennale
    Foundation]: Asia Culture Center, Creation
    Spaces 5 and 6
    Open 10:00–18:00 (Tue., Thu., Fri., Sun.),
    10:00–20:00 (Wed., Sat.)
  13. New Zealand: Suha Gallery
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays
  14. Peru: Kimnetgwa
    Closed on Mondays and holidays
  15. Poland: Leeleenam Studio
    Open 11:00–19:00 (weekdays),
    10:00–19:00 (weekends)
  16. Spanish Art: Yangnim Penguin Village Craft Street
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  17. Sweden: Chungjang22
    Open 10:00–18:00 except Mondays
  18. Union: Eunam Museum of Art
    Open 10:00–17:00 except Sundays and holidays
  19. The Netherlands: Gwangju Museum of Art
    Open 10:00–18:00, except Mondays and
    holidays
  20. United States: May 18 Memorial Culture Center
    Open 10:00–18:00 except Mondays
  21. Qatar: Kwangju Bank Art Hall

Visitors can purchase tickets at a discounted rate during the advanced booking period, available until September 6. For more details on the Gwangju Biennale, visit https://gwangjubiennale.org/en/exhibition/biennale/pavilion.do