Regarding the controversy surrounding the
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) Pavilion, the Gwangju Biennale
Foundation once again clarifies the facts of the agreement and the Foundation’s
operational principles. The Foundation does not intervene in or censor the
content or expression of exhibitions, and is continuing necessary consultations
to ensure the NTMoFA exhibition can be held normally. Furthermore, while
requesting the normal use of the National Asian Culture Center (hereinafter
ACC) space, the Foundation has also proposed the utilization of alternative
spaces within the Gwangju Biennale exhibition halls as an alternative to
minimize disruptions to the exhibition. The Gwangju Biennale Foundation takes the
concerns and controversies raised regarding the National Taiwan Museum of Fine
Arts (NTMoFA) Pavilion very seriously. We are fully aware that the artists and
curators who have been preparing the exhibition are experiencing confusion and
burden due to this issue. The Foundation also takes seriously the fact that the
Artistic Director and Curatorial Team of the 16th Gwangju Biennale have
submitted an official request to the Foundation, as well as the declaration by
Gwangju artists. The Gwangju Biennale Foundation reaffirms
that the Pavilion Project is a purely cultural and artistic collaboration
initiative. The Foundation adopts the guarantee of autonomous creative
activities by participating institutions and artists as its fundamental
principle, and is responding to this matter based on the facts and agreements
under that principle. Principle of Guaranteeing Exhibition
Autonomy The Gwangju Biennale has not intervened in
the exhibition planning, artwork selection, installation methods, or the
expression of artists and curators regarding the NTMoFA Pavilion, and will not
intervene in the future. The Foundation does not interfere with or censor the
exhibition title, preface, artwork descriptions, or visual representations used
in the exhibition. The Foundation does not consider it
desirable for this matter to develop into a political or diplomatic issue. We
wish to make clear that the issue concerns administrative and contractual
matters regarding the entities participating in the pavilion and the
designation used in official promotional materials, rather than the content of
the exhibition itself. This year's Gwangju Biennale Pavilion
Project consists of national pavilions and institutional pavilions, with 11
organizations, including NTMoFA, participating in their capacity as
institutions. The Foundation has applied labeling standards to official
documents and promotional materials in accordance with this operational
structure. Facts of the Agreement The Foundation and NTMoFA signed the
Agreement for the 16th Gwangju Biennale Pavilion Exhibition on January 12,
2026. The section designating the contracting parties in the Agreement lists
the Gwangju Biennale Foundation and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts as
the respective parties. Furthermore, the end of the Agreement
includes the signatures of the representatives of both institutions, along with
a clause stating that “this Agreement shall be drawn up in two copies, with
each party retaining one copy.” Since the Agreement contains a confidentiality
clause, the full text cannot be disclosed; however, we intend to disclose, on a
limited basis, the parts where the parties and signatures are confirmed, to the
extent necessary to verify the current facts. The Foundation has carried out its official
duties based on this Agreement. Therefore, the use of the names of the
contracting institutions in official promotional materials was a measure taken
in accordance with the Agreement and administrative procedures. It is confirmed
that in a reply dated August 21, NTMoFA disagreed with the use of “NTMoFA” in
current official promotional materials and requested that it be corrected and
restored to “Taiwan Pavilion.” However, the Foundation clearly states that
these demands are being raised on premises different from the parties to the
agreement and the official notation system established thereunder. Explaining this point is not intended to
deny the identity of NTMoFA or the participating artists. A distinction must be
made between the notation principles applied to the Foundation's official
documents and promotional materials and how the exhibiting entity presents
itself at the exhibition venue.
However, the Foundation is an institution that performs official duties in
accordance with the agreement and procedures. Therefore, the Foundation
maintains the official notation principles based on the agreement. Furthermore,
the autonomy of exhibitions and freedom of expression within the venue will
continue to be guaranteed. The Foundation clearly states that these two
principles are not in conflict but must be respected together.
Position on Exhibition Space Currently, the most important task is to
resolve the space issue so that the exhibition can actually be held. The ACC is
the institution that signed the agreement with the Foundation for the use of
the Pavilion exhibition space in 2025, and the agreement does not specify the
name of any particular country or institution to host the exhibition. The party
that signed the agreement with the ACC is the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, not
NTMoFA. The Foundation requests that the ACC open
its existing spaces and cooperate for the delivery and installation of artworks
and the operation of the exhibition so that the NTMoFA exhibition can proceed
as scheduled. In an official letter, the Foundation
stated that if the use of ACC spaces is further delayed or becomes difficult,
spaces within the Gwangju Biennale exhibition halls may be considered as an
alternative. The Foundation also conveyed its position that in such a case,
necessary space maintenance, on-site inspections, and consultations for
exhibition preparation would be carried out promptly. Furthermore, the
Foundation stated that even if the space is changed, no separate restrictions
would be imposed on the exhibition content or expression, beyond the usual
measures necessary for exhibition operation, safety, and facility management. In a reply dated August 21, NTMoFA stated
that since the exhibition design, artwork placement, and related production
preparations were completed based on the existing Complex Cultural Center Hall
5, a change of venue would require a new review and evaluation from a
curatorial and technical perspective. They also pointed out that their
exhibition preparations should not continue to be affected by issues between
the Foundation and the ACC. The Foundation takes these concerns seriously and,
for this reason, is continuing necessary consultations while keeping open both
the continued use of the ACC space as originally agreed and the review of
alternative spaces. Position on Collaborative Resolution The Artistic Director and Curatorial Team
of the 16th Biennale have stated that this issue is not limited to the pavilion
but could affect the main exhibition and the Gwangju Biennale as a whole. They
have expressed the position that participating institutions and artists must
have a substantive voice regarding how they are identified and represented. The Foundation does not take these concerns
lightly. At the same time, the Foundation clarifies that the autonomy of the
exhibition and the principles of official business conduct based on agreements
must be respected together. The Foundation is continuing necessary
consultations with NTMoFA and the ACC. What is needed now is not to further
emphasize our respective positions, but to swiftly identify a workable solution
that will allow the exhibition to open as scheduled. The Gwangju Biennale Foundation will
continue to provide the necessary administrative support and coordination to
ensure that the NTMoFA Pavilion can open to the public in Gwangju as scheduled.
We will also continue to work toward a responsible resolution based on factual
communication and mutual respect. | 
