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Gwangju Biennale faces artist withdrawals over naming row

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-03 03:29 UTC → 2026-09-03 18:02 UTC · added removed

The dispute over the naming of the ‘Taiwan Pavilion’ at the 16th Gwangju Biennale has escalated into a significant disruption of the event. The conflict began when the Gwangju Biennale Foundation changed the designation from ‘Taiwan Pavilion’ to ‘NTMoFA’ (National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts), a move Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture claimed violated an April contract and constituted political censorship. While the foundation eventually agreed to restore the original name, the decision drew criticism from the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea. Gwangju Metropolitan City issued an official apology, attributing the escalation to insufficient communication between the Biennale Foundation and participating institutions. The city clarified that the use of ‘Taiwan Pavilion’ is intended as an artistic expression rather than official state recognition, reaffirming its respect for the ‘One China’ principle in accordance with South Korean foreign policy. In response to the naming reversal, the situation has intensified with 19 Chinese artists announcing a unanimous decision to withdraw from the Biennale. These artists stated that the name choice allows political elements to interfere with the realm of art and protested the perceived infringement on the ‘One China’ principle. Despite these withdrawals, The fallout has extended into broader regional diplomacy. A delegation from the Biennale continues Guangzhou City People's Congress Standing Committee cancelled a scheduled visit to Gwangju, and Zhoushan City has withdrawn its pavilion projects, including upcoming collaborations aimed at fostering international networks between art institutions across Asia. participation from the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that the naming dispute is a private sector decision and does not reflect the government's official stance on Taiwan.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-03 18:02 UTC Gwangju Biennale faces artist withdrawals over naming row
  2. 2026-09-03 03:29 UTC Gwangju Biennale faces artist withdrawals over naming row
  3. 2026-08-31 05:12 UTC Gwangju City apologizes for Taiwan Pavilion naming dispute
  4. 2026-08-26 03:07 UTC Gwangju Biennale restores ‘Taiwan Pavilion’ name
  5. 2026-08-21 11:03 UTC Taiwan-Gwangju Biennale naming dispute

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