COURTESY WIKIMEDIA
The Biennale of Sydney released the names of 21 artists who will be featured in its 21st edition in 2018. This initial list includes Ai Weiwei, Laurent Grasso, Haegue Yang, and Eija-Liisa Ahtila. In commemoration of its 45th anniversary, the Sydney Biennale will also revisit material from its 1,800-artist archive.
In a statement, the show’s artistic director, Mami Kataoka, said the biennale “will explore multiple viewpoints in search of a state of equilibrium” and described the show experience as “a journey; a walk through microcosms of the world today based on the stratum of history, human knowledge, emotions, desires and beliefs, as well as the mysteries of natural phenomena and the whole of the universe.” The biennale anticipates a final roster of approximately 70 artists, with further details concerning the show’s title and framing concepts to be released in July.
The initial 21 artists are as follows:
- Eija-Liisa Ahtila (born in Finland, living in Helsinki)
- Ai Weiwei (born in China, living in Beijing)
- Brook Andrew (born in Australia, living in Melbourne)
- Oliver Beer (born in England, living in Paris and London)
- Anya Gallaccio (born in Scotland, living in San Diego)
- Laurent Grasso (born in France, living in Paris and New York)
- N. S. Harsha (born in India, living in Mysore)
- Mit Jai Inn (born in Thailand, living in Chiang Mai)
- Kate Newby (born in New Zealand, living in Auckland and New York)
- Noguchi Rika (born in Japan, living in Okinawa)
- Nguyen Trinh Thi (born in Vietnam, living in Hanoi)
- Clara Phillips (born in Canada, living in Glasgow)
- Koji Ryui (born in Japan, living in Sydney)
- Semiconductor (Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt, born in England, living in Brighton)
- Yasmin Smith (born in Australia, living in Sydney)
- George Tjungurrayi (born in Australia, living in Kintore)
- Nicole Wong (born and living in Hong Kong)
- Wong Hoy Cheong (born in Malaysia, living in Kuala Lumpur)
- Yukinori Yanagi (born in Japan, living in Hiroshima)
- Haegue Yang (born in South Korea, living in Berlin and Seoul)
- Jun Yang (born in China, living in Vienna, Taipei and Yokohama)