Biennials are international showcases for contemporary art that take place every two years. Often these exhibitions are helmed by carefully chosen guest curators who then decide on a theme to lead its direction. Rarely located in a single exhibition space, these art shows are dispersed throughout the city, popping up in parks, public spaces or various galleries.
While most of the prominent showcases tend to be based in Europe, Asia looks set to offer quite the rousing experience in the art world this year. So if you’re an art buff or someone just getting your toes dipped in the art world, here are just some of the fairs in Asia you ought to arrange a visit to.
The Bangkok Art Biennale will make its inaugural debut in the city, featuring 75 artists from across 33 countries. Held from Oct. 19, 2018 to Feb. 3, 2019, the event will feature works that center around the theme of “Beyond Bliss.” Various cultural sites will set the scene for the city’s first biennale, including ancient temples Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha) and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), as well as the historic East Asiatic Company building, Bangkok Art and Culture Center and Suan Lumpini Park.
Taipei Biennial
Returning for the 11th edition this year, Taipei Biennale will have the help of Mali Wu and Francesco Manacorda as co-curators. The exhibition (held from Nov. 17, 2018 to Mar. 10, 2019) will explore the “the interconnectivity of ecosystemic structures formed between humans and nature,” and aims to drive a conversation on the issue using art as a medium. Read more