Christian Thompson selected artist for 11th Shanghai Biennale
The Shanghai-based art museum Power Station of Art has recently announced the artist lineup for the 11th Shanghai Biennale, totaling 92 international artists. From November 11, 2016 through March 12, 2017, the biennale will spotlight contemporary artists from 40 countries, including 27 Chinese artists, 37 female artists, and 48 male artists. Some of these participating talents are Agan Harashap, Christian Thompson, Aki Sasamoto, Anawana Haloba, Ayesha Jatoi, Chen Zhe, Christine Sun Kim, Etel Adnan, Wang Gongxin, Tao Hui, Taus Makhacheva, and Yang Zhenzhong.
Curated by the Delhi-based artist group Raqs Media Collective, the biennale will respond to the theme “Why Not Ask Again? Arguments, Counter-arguments and Stories,” occupying the first three floors of the Power Station of Art. Perceived as a demand and a query, it hopes to prompt a multitude of questions and follow-ups from the artists, and from the audience based on the works exhibited.
In addition to this, to add depth to the biennale, the curators have also created key extensions which will make up the overall program of the event. The “Terminals” comprise one of the vital components of the biennale, acting as a point of “connection and amplification” for the exhibition. This extension will feature international artists such as Ivana Franke, Regina José Galindo, Marjolijn Dijkman, and MouSen + MSG, who will be invited to develop a collection of questions through their artistic practice.
Seven young curators selected from around the world will each present a sub-exhibition in the “Infra-Curatorial Platform,” designed to delve into various curatorial vantage points that draw on new queries around “networked thinking.”“51 Personae” features a total of three programs curated by Raqs Media Collective and executed by Curatorial Collegiate member Chen Yun. Each of these will present a Shanghai “figure” to the city every week throughout the duration of the biennale. And lastly, Liu Tan has developed “Theory Opera” in collaboration with Yao Mengxi as the scenographer, examining the “sensuality of thought.
External events initiated by the Power Station of Art will be happening throughout Shanghai, including “Metamorphosis of the God Harvest,” which will be showcased at the art center of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel.
The 11th Shanghai Biennale will run from November 11, 2016 through March 12, 2017 at the Power Station of Art, Shanghai.