Chinese Artists Withdraw From Gwangju Biennale Over Taiwan Name

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Chinese artists scheduled to participate in the Gwangju Biennale have officially withdrawn from the prestigious exhibition, which is set to open on September 5. This decision follows a directive from the Chinese embassy in Seoul last week, instructing China's artistic team to cease activities in protest of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation's allowance of Taiwanese exhibitors under the name“Taiwan.”

As the exhibition's opening approaches, the Biennale is facing a diplomatic controversy. Allegations suggest that organizers changed the Taiwanese exhibition's name from“Taiwan Pavilion” to“The NTMoFA Pavilion,” referencing its commissioning body, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. In an August statement, supported by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture, the Taiwanese artists stated the change was made without their consent. They described it as“political censorship” and a betrayal of the event's core principles, which are linked to the pro-democracy Gwangju Uprising.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and views any recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state as a breach of its diplomatic policy.“Because the biennale organizers used an incorrect designation for the participation of China's Taiwan region,” stated Ruan Yuelai, a curator for the China Pavilion, at a news conference, as initially reported by South Korean media. Yuelai added that allowing political factors to interfere with art is unacceptable to the Chinese curatorial team, which has“unanimously decided to withdraw from the exhibition in strong protest.”

The China consulate-general in Gwangju accused the Biennale organizers of having“openly allowed the Taiwan region of China to participate in the exhibition using a name that is completely inconsistent with its status.” Conversely, a spokesperson for South Korea's Foreign Ministry informed the New York Times that the country's“policy toward Taiwan had not changed” and that the dispute originated in the“private sector.”

In response, the Gwangju Biennale organizers released a statement:“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 foundation also affirmed that it“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.”

We previously reported:

China has ordered its artists to withdraw from the Gwangju Biennale in protest of the event allowing Taiwanese exhibitors to participate under the name

Thirty-six artists and curators demand the Gwangju Biennale reinstate the“Taiwan Pavilion” name and allow access after claims of censorship.

Source: ARTnews

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