Singapore: Singaporean filmmaker and visual artist Ho Tzu Nyen has been appointed artistic director of the 16th Gwangju Biennale scheduled for next year, the Gwangju Biennale Foundation said Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ho Tzu Nyen is known for his exploration of Asian modernity through diverse media, including film and installation. He was selected for his belief in the "power of art" and his vision to bring "new change" to the internationally renowned event, as stated by the foundation.
"The 16th Gwangju Biennale will bring together the energies, personalities, practices, artworks and propositions that have captivated me and fueled my growth in the past two decades," Ho was quoted by the foundation as saying. He emphasized the significance of the exhibition as an opportunity to explore how artistic transformation resonates with Gwangju, a city historically linked to democratization.
Ho represented Singapore at the 54th Venice Biennale in 2011 and has participated in prestigious events like the Whitney Biennial and the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes. He is also well-acquainted with the Gwangju Biennale, having participated in its 2018 and 2021 editions. Last year, he held his first solo exhibition in Korea at the Art Sonje Center in Seoul.
His work has been exhibited at major institutions including the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin and National Gallery Singapore. Ho was an artist-in-residence at DAAD Berlin from 2015-2016 and Asia Art Archive from 2012-2015.