Gwangju Biennale

The Gwangju Biennale, which was founded in September 1995 in the city of Gwangju in the South Jeolla province of South Korea. Founded in memory of spirits of civil uprising of the 1980 repression of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, the Gwangju Biennale presents a global perspective on contemporary art. When the Gwangju Biennale began in 1995, it was the first such art event in East Asia. Meanwhile, competing events have sprung up not only in Asia, but in South Korea itself (Media City Seoul, Busan Biennale). Under the helm of a progression of international curators - including Massimiliano Gioni, Kerry Brougher, Sukwon Chang, Okwui Enwezor, Charles Esche, Hou Hanru, Honghee Kim, Yongwoo Lee, Youngchul Lee, Kwangsoo Oh, Wankyoung Sung, and Harald Szeemann - the Gwangju Biennale has established itself as a highlight of the international contemporary art biennale circuit. Centered in Gwangju's 8,100 square meter Biennale Hall in Jungoui Park, the Gwangju Biennale's presence has elevated the city of 1.4 million to become a cultural hub of East Asia.