16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life

▲ Gwangju Biennale artistic director Ho Tzu Nyen speaks at a press conference in Seoul on March 13, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ Gwangju Biennale artistic director Ho Tzu Nyen (L) is joined by a team of curators -- Che Kyongfa (2nd from L), Park Ga-hee (2nd from R) and Brian Kuan Wood -- for the 16th Gwangju Biennale in Seoul on March 13, 2026. (Yonhap)

Gwangju Biennale-press conference

16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, March 13 (Yonhap) -- This year's Gwangju Biennale draws its inspiration from the final line of Rainer Maria Rilke's famous poem "Archaic Torso of Apollo," its artistic director said Friday.

The 1908 poem, which depicts a viewer standing before a fragmentary ancient sculpture, closes with a commanding line: "You must change your life."

"Rather than specifying and dictating how one should change, it leaves transformation open in its possibility," artistic director Ho Tzu Nyen said at a press conference in Seoul, where he outlined the direction of the festival.

"The viewer and the reader are compelled to change, but they must find their own path," he said. "The Biennale explores change as an artistic method, through which art thinkers, art dreamers and art lovers alike experiment with new forms of life, creativity, power and relationship."

Defining Gwangju as the best place to explore the biennale's two key words -- change and practice -- he said, "There is no better place to ask this question of change than in Gwangju, the city of change, whose history of democratic struggle continues to resonate globally."

"Here, change is not abstract but is lived history," he said.

This year's edition deliberately features the smallest number of artists in its history, according to the director, in order to focus more on "intensity" than on "accumulation" in its presentation.

"Our aim is to deepen engagement by presenting multiple works by each artist," he said, tracing the arc of a practice sustained across a lifetime.

The Singaporean media artist and filmmaker, known for his explorations in Asian history and mythology, participated in the Gwangju Biennale in 2018 and 2021. In 2011, he represented Singapore at the Venice Biennale. His films have also been screened at major international film festivals, with his 2009 feature "Here" being invited to the festivals in Cannes, Venice and Busan.

Recalling his personal ties to the city of Gwangju, he said he had "little hesitation" when he received the invitation.

"It was almost instinctive reaction. For me, the city and its history resonate very deeply."

Having previously worked on a commissioned project for the Gwangju Biennale, he said he had "the opportunity to immerse myself and to learn of the city's history. I remember being very moved by the heroism of the people that stood up and resisted," referring to the city's 1980 pro-democracy uprising.

Ho is working with a select team of curators -- Che Kyongfa, Park Ga-hee and Brian Kuan Wood -- on the 16th edition, which will run from Sept. 5 to Nov. 15.

Featured artists include Daisuke Kosugi, Mona Benyamin, Melvin Moti, Christian Nyampeta, Kwon Byungjun and Park Chang-kyong.

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