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Fever Variations

06. Biennale Gwangju Gwangju  •  Korea [KR]

The 6th Gwangju Biennale 2006 intended to illuminate and re-interpret international contemporary art by taking ‘Asia’ as its theme. The title “Fever Variations” reflects the multiple ways Asia’s energy from new changes and dynamic visions affect the world with its cultural abundance and varieties, and its vibrant energy spreading to the world like a type of a fever. The cultural hub city of Gwangju is conceived as a geographical metaphor for the changes and dynamism of Asia today. Underpinning the concept of ‘from here’ in Gwangju Biennale 2006’s narrative, Gwangju reaches towards Asia and the world, and Asia and the world gather in Gwangju in succession, forming Gwangju as the centrally networked city in Asia.
The 6th Gwangju Biennale was held from September 8, 2006 to November 11, 2006 for 65 days under Kim Hong-hee (Director of Ssamzie Space), the General Artistic Director, 127 artists from 32 countries participated. Two large-scale exhibitions were visualized under the general header – ‘source narrative’ and a citizen programme was formed. ‘The First Chapter_Trace Root: Unfolding Asian Stories’ included the team of Wu Hung (Harrie A. Vanderstappen Distinguished Service Professor in Chinese Art Huangfu – Curators, and Jacquelynn Bass – Collaborating Curator. The exhibition took a diachronic approach to trace the root of Asian spirit and was further divided into four sections: Myth and Fantasy, Nature and Body, Trace of Mind, and Past in Present; and included 72 participating artists.
‘The Last Chapter_Trace Routes: Remapping Global Cities’ was conceived through co-curators Beck Jee-sook, Cristina Ricupero, and Chris Gilbert and Cira Pascual Marquina. ‘The Last Chapter’ used a synchronic method to map the simultaneity of world contemporary art, and created networks and tracked its evidence in cities around the globe. 55 artists from Asia, Europe, North and South American cities participated through on-site workshops and projects from their respective cities. ‘The First Chapter’ brought in the audience in an intimate manner of a museum-type exhibition to explore the theme, whereas ‘The Last Chapter’ kept Asia as the basis but proposed a cultural diagnosis through a project-type exhibition concerning cultural migration and diaspora of the world population.
Concurrently, through ‘The Third Sector_Citizen Program: 1.4 Million Torches’, the Biennale exhibition, Gwangju citizens and the general audience were connected. By linking the concept of the programme with the ‘First’ and ‘Last Chapter’ and an induction of active participation of the citizens, the locality of Gwangju was emphasized. Varied programmes for an open biennale (Midnight Fever Party, Beat Café, Bit Garden, Open Art Market, Next Playground (Gwangju Byulgok, etc), Art Orchestra (Open Call Exhibition), etc) was implemented as participatory events related to art.
The 6th Gwangju Biennale: Asian Art Forum, CAA Conference 2006: Asia Effects in New Media, Open Forum: World Biennales and Gwangju Biennale 2006 were held parallel to the discourse concerned with ‘Asia’ in contemporary art and the international biennale culture, and each provided to be a platform for discussion. As part of the international marketing and networking initiative, cooperative marketing and joint press conferences were held in Singapore Biennale, Shanghai Biennale as well as the cities Yokohama, New York, Berlin, and Seoul. Commercialized group tours were also offered.

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Artists : Škart,16Beaver , Abdul Lida, Aporrea.org, Aru, Autogena Lise & Portway Joshua, Bayrle Thomas , Benyahia Samta , Beutler Michael,  Bonvicini Monica, Bradshaw Dove, Chen Chieh-Jen, Choi  Jung Hwa, Choi Min Hwa, Copenhagen Free University Henriette Heise & J, Dario Azzellini, Dias & Riedweg, Dono Heri, Elmgreen Michael & Dragset Ingar FLUXUS, Flying City , Gaba Meshac, Gimhongsok Korea, Grupo Alavío, Ham Kyungah, Hammons David, Harris Thomas Allen, Hong Lei, Hong Seok-man, Horelli Laura, Indymedia, Jens Haaning & Superflex, Jeong Kiheoun & Siyon Jin, JNP, Joo Michael, Kallat, Jitish, Kamisato Akio, Mashimo Takehisa, Shibata Sato, Kim Jong-ku, Kim Myoung Joon, Kim Sang Yeon, Kwak Sun K, Le Dinh Q., Lee Jong Sang, Lee Sukyung, Lee Ufan, Lim Min-ouk, Lin Shu-min,  Linke Armin, Lize Mogel, Meiselas Susan, mixrice, Naito Rei, Narkevicius Deimantas, Nguyen-Hatsushiba Jun, Ohanian Melik, Paola Yacoub Michel Lasserre, Pelletier,Jean-Marc, Phaophanit Vong, Qiu Zhijie, Rasdjarmrearnsook Araya, Rudelius Julika, Runa Islam, Senju Hiroshi, Serralongue Bruno, Shaw Raqib,Shen Yuan,Shin Ji-cheol, Shiota Chiharu, Snyder Sean, Son Bong Chae, Song Dong ,Song Sang-hee, Sriwanichpoom Mani, Tee Jennifer, Tolaas Sissel, Urbonas Nomeda & Gediminas, Van Brummelen Lonnie, Van Lieshout Erik, Vasan Sitthiket, Victor Suzann, Welsby Chris,Whang In-kie, Xu Bing, Yanagi Miwa, Zaatari Akram, Zhang, Dali, Zhang, Huan, Zheng, Liu

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Gwangju Biennale Hall
Address : 500-070 211 Biennale 2 gil Buk-Gu Gwangju, Korea
Phone : +82.62.608.4114

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