056 - 26|05|08

THE 7TH GWANGJU BIENNALE
September 5, 2008 - November 9, 2008

Artistic Director: Okwui Enwezor

SPRING
Curated by Claire Tancons
Like the 7th Gwangju Biennale itself, Spring is not a theme, but a concept that recalls the emancipatory energy of the South Korean Spring in May 1980. However, the references of Spring go well beyond Gwangju, and encompass the history of the street procession, especially as found in the Caribbean, New Orleans, and South Africa. Given its format as a street procession, and its location, Gwangju, the attention of the invited artists will be drawn to the May 1980 street uprisings in Gwangju. In a related way Spring focuses on ideas of self-government and cooperation, both of which are at the root of popular organization. Another interest of Spring is to refuse the constricted space of the exhibition gallery, but readapt the exhibition format into a space of active social participation. In this way the processional format is the arena through which this project seeks to experiment with new modes of conducting an exhibition. For the public, other historical references can be found nestled in Spring as a seasonal cycle when revolutionary upheavals have occurred: from the Paris Commune of 1871, to Paris of May 1968, to the Gwangju manifestations of 1980. Finally, Spring calls to mind the idea of sudden motion and constant tension, both of which are at the core of popular street manifestations, from carnivals to demonstrations.

http://www.gwangju-biennale.org/