Gwangju Biennale faces disruption as Chinese artists withdraw over permission for “Taiwan Pavilion” name

Chinese artists installing works for the Gwangju Biennale have stopped the process and announced their withdrawal, putting the event at risk of disruption just before its opening. They made their first official statement on Sept. 3 after halting work on Aug. 28.

The 19 Chinese artists involved in the pavilion project said they valued the biennale and had invested considerable effort in the exhibition planned for the China Pavilion. But they objected to the organizers’ decision to permit the name “Taiwan Pavilion” for another participating exhibition.

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We consider the Gwangju Biennale very important and have devoted a great deal of effort to the planned exhibition at the China Pavilion.

They said the naming decision created a situation in which political considerations had entered the art world. The artists called the decision unacceptable and said they had unanimously chosen to withdraw as a strong protest.

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However, the Gwangju Biennale’s use of an incorrect name related to Taiwan’s participation created a situation in which political elements intervened in the artistic sphere.

The dispute began after the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts signed an exhibition agreement with the Gwangju Biennale Foundation in January and requested the name “Taiwan Pavilion.” The foundation initially changed it to “National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts Special Pavilion.” It later allowed “Taiwan Pavilion” after criticism from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and arts groups, which accused the foundation of outside pressure and censorship.

China objected. Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing visited Gwangju Mayor Min Hyeong-bae on Aug. 27 and expressed regret over the approval. China’s one-China position rejects using “Taiwan” in international events when it suggests that Taiwan is a sovereign state.

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We cannot accept this, and we unanimously decided to withdraw from the exhibition to express our strong protest.

Gwangju City and the biennale foundation later said they respected the one-China principle. They added that “Taiwan Pavilion” was an expression left to participating artists in the artistic sphere and did not mean that Gwangju or the biennale recognized Taiwan as a country. The clarification did not resolve the dispute. The biennale is due to open on Sept. 4 and continue until Nov. 15, with 16 country pavilions and 11 institutions expected to participate. It is the first year China and Taiwan have both planned to take part since the pavilion project began in 2018.

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The name Taiwan Pavilion is merely an expression entrusted to participating artists in the artistic sphere, and clearly does not mean that Gwangju City or the Gwangju Biennale recognizes Taiwan as a country.