Gwangju, South Korea, September 2, 2026 — The Gwangju Biennale
Foundation sincerely apologizes for the concern, confusion, and disappointment
caused to artists, participating institutions, audiences, and stakeholders in
Korea and abroad in connection with the operation of the Pavilion Project for
the 16th Gwangju Biennale. The Gwangju Biennale
Pavilion Project was established as a platform for institutions, artists, and
cultural practitioners from diverse backgrounds to meet, exchange ideas, and
communicate through contemporary art. In keeping with this
purpose, the Foundation has worked with participating institutions to support
their exhibitions and ensure the autonomy of their artistic practices. However, the Foundation
deeply regrets that differing positions among the parties concerned were not
sufficiently reconciled at key stages of the process, allowing the matter to
escalate into a public controversy. The Foundation recognizes
that this caused significant uncertainty and burden for the artists, curators,
institutions, and many others who devoted considerable effort to preparing the
Pavilion Project. In particular, during
preparations for the exhibition organized with the National Taiwan Museum of
Fine Arts (NTMoFA), differences arose concerning the designation used in the
Foundation’s official promotional materials. The Foundation applied the
designation standards in accordance with the administrative procedures and
contractual framework in place at the time. Nonetheless, the Foundation
acknowledges that its efforts to address and reconcile these differences were
insufficient, and sincerely regrets that the matter developed in a way that
caused distress and concern. The Foundation has
consistently upheld the principle that it does not intervene in or censor the
planning, content, or expression of exhibitions presented by participating
institutions and artists. The Foundation remains
committed to safeguarding artistic autonomy and freedom of expression, which
are fundamental values of the Gwangju Biennale. The Foundation takes this
situation as a serious opportunity for reflection. The Foundation will
comprehensively review the operational and administrative processes of the
Pavilion Project and strengthen its procedures for communication, consultation,
and coordination with participating institutions. The Foundation will work to
ensure that, while respecting the autonomy and distinct identities of all
participants, responsibilities and procedures under its agreements are carried
out with greater clarity, mutual understanding, and care. The Foundation sincerely
hopes that the 16th Gwangju Biennale will continue to fulfill the Pavilion
Project’s original purpose: fostering meaningful artistic exchange and dialogue
across borders. The Foundation also hopes
that the China Pavilion will be able to resume its participation. | 
