Gwangju Biennale appoints Ho Tzu Nyen, unveils You Must Change Your Life theme

South Korea’s Gwangju Biennale has announced the theme for its 16th edition: “You Must Change Your Life.” The title is drawn from the final line of Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem Archaic Torso of Apollo, signaling a focus on art’s transformative power in the face of today’s crises.

The 16th edition will run for 72 days, starting September 5, with Ho Tzu Nyen, a Singapore-born media artist, serving as artistic director.

The theme is intended to draw attention to the transformative potential of art in addressing the crises and urgent issues facing society today, according to the organizers.

The Gwangju Biennale is one of Asia’s leading contemporary art exhibitions, with a history dating back to 1995. It serves as a major platform for international artists and curators to present work in Korea and to engage with global audiences.

Ho Tzu Nyen’s appointment highlights ongoing cross-border collaboration in the global art scene, reinforcing the biennale’s role as a conduit for international exchange in contemporary practice.

For U.S. readers, the biennale matters because it signals continued transnational engagement in contemporary art, with potential implications for collaborations with American museums and galleries, as well as the broader growth of Asian art in global markets and cultural discourse.