On September 4, the 16th Gwangju Biennale, 《You Must Change Your Life》, officially opened with a ceremony, marking the beginning of its 72-day run.
 
Under the theme “You must change your life,” the 16th Gwangju Biennale examines the meaning of “change” and “action” through the lens of contemporary art, spanning the individual and extending to society, history, and even the universe.
 
In particular, as Gwangju enters a period of transition ahead of the launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, the Biennale seeks to strengthen its role as a cultural and artistic platform connecting the global and the local, while presenting contemporary art alongside the region’s cultural assets throughout the city.

The opening ceremony was attended by approximately 500 people, including Hyung-bae Min, Mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City; Bummo Youn, President of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation; and artistic director Ho Tzu Nyen, as well as prominent figures from the Korean and international art worlds, including Hans Ulrich Obrist, Director of Serpentine Galleries, and Clara Kim, Senior Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA).
 
The opening performances began with an improvisational performance featuring special instruments created fron the Kwon Byungjun and Park Chan-kyong Bullim (Augmentation)(2026), followed by electric duo Haepaary and DJ set by Rrose.
 
This year’s Biennale runs from September 5 to November 15 at venues throughout Gwangju, including the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall. Through a diverse range of programs, including the main exhibition and pavilions, it presents new perspectives and practices in contemporary art.

Led by artistic director Ho Tzu Nyen, this year’s Biennale brings together 43 artists and teams from 22 countries to explore the conflicts and fractures confronting contemporary society, as well as the possibilities of recovery and solidarity.
 
The participating artists ask how we might connect with and transform one another through material conditions, lived experiences, and evolving lives and relationships. Moving beyond mere representation, art opens up new ways of thinking and new worlds, inviting us to imagine possible futures.
 
This year, the Biennale has intentionally reduced the number of participating artists while presenting multiple works by each artist, allowing visitors to engage more deeply with individual works and the artists’ practices.
 
For more information about the 16th Gwangju Biennale, visit the Gwangju Biennale website and social media channels.

References

• 제16회 광주비엔날레 (16th Gwangju Biennale)
• 연합뉴스, '너는 네 삶을 바꿔야 한다' 제16회 광주비엔날레 개막(종합), 2026.09.04