Busan Biennale
The Busan Biennale is a biannual international contemporary art show that integrated three different art events held in the city in 1998: the Busan Youth Biennale, the first biennale of Korea that was voluntarily organized by local artists in 1981; the Sea Art Festival, an environmental art festival launched in 1987 with the sea serving as a backdrop; and the Busan International Outdoor Sculpture Symposium that was first held in 1991. The biennale was previously called the Pusan International Contemporary Art Festival (PICAF) before it launched.
The biennale has its own unique attribute in that it was formed not out of any political logic or need but rather the pure force of local Busan artists’ will and their voluntary participation. Even to this day their interest in Busan's culture and its experimental nature has been the key foundation for shaping the biennale’s identity.
This biennale is the only one like it in the world that was established through an integration of three types of art events such as a Contemporary Art Exhibition, Sculpture Symposium, and Sea Art Festival. The Sculpture Symposium in particular was deemed to be a successful public art event, the results of which were installed throughout the city and dedicated to revitalizing cultural communication with citizens. The networks formed through the event have assumed a crucial role in introducing and expanding domestic art overseas and leading the development of local culture for globalized cultural communication. Founded 38 years ago, the biennale aims to popularize contemporary art and achieve art in everyday life by providing a platform for interchanging experimental contemporary art.
Artistic Director
Azumaya Takashi
Born in 1968
Independent curator
Education
- 1994 Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music(M.F.A, Oil painting course)
- 1992 Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music(B.A, Oil painting course)
Career
- 2008 Guest curator of Contemporary Art Exhibition, Busan Biennale 2008
- 2003 - 04 Associate curator of Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
- 2002 Commissioner of Media City in Seoul 2002
- 1999 Curatorial Staff of Tokyo Opera city Art Gallery
- 1994 - 99 Assistant curator of Tokyo Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo
Director in Busan
Kim, Eung Ki
Born in 1952
Artist
Education
- HONGIK University of College of Fine Art(M.F.A, painting)
- HONGIK University of College of Fine Art(B.A, painting)
Career
- Member of Busan Youth Biennale Steering Committee
- Vice Chairman of Busan Fine Arts Association
- The 9th Solo Exhibition
Curatorial Advisor
Park, Manu
Born in 1959
Adjunct professor at Chosun University
Education
- 1987 University Paris1(Pantheon Sorbonne)(Doctorate Course, Theory of art criticisam)
- 1984 Seoul National University(M.A, Aesthetics)
- 1982 Seoul National University(B.A, Aesthetics)
Career
- 2009 Curator of Exhibition 'Made in Korea', Hannover Messe 2009
- 2007 - 08 Guest professor at Department of art historiography, Chosun University
- 2006 Director of Contemporary Art Exhibition, Busan Biennale 2006
- 2004 Curator of Contemporary Art Exhibition, Busan Biennale 2004
- 2002 Exhibition Team Director, Gwangju Biennale 2002
Binghui Huangfu
Born in 1955
Independent curator
Education
- 2009 University of New South Wales, College of Fine Arts(Current Candidate Ph.D.)
- 1993 Post-graduate diploma, University of Sydney(Painting)
Career
- 2007 - 09 Deputy Director, Zendai Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai
- 2006 - 07 Senior Curator, Casula Power House Art Center, Liverpool City Museum, Sydney 2006 Co-Curator for the Gwangju Biennale 2006
- 2003 - 06 Director, Asia Australia Art Centre, Sydney Australia
Peter Doroshenko
Born in 1962
Director of Pinchuk Art Centre
Education
- 1988 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago(Graduate Certificate in Modern Art History, Theory and Criticism)
- 1985 University of the Wisconsin(B.F.A, Painting/Drawing and Art History)
Career
- 2005 - 07 BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Director
- 2004 Guest Curator of Associazione Arte Continua, Italy
- 2003 - 05 Stedeljk Museum voor Actuele Kunst - SMAK, Ghent Director
- 1996 - 03 Institute of Visual Arts University of the Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Director
- 1991 - 95 Contemporary Art Museum, Houston, Senior Curator
- 1989 - 91 Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, Curator of Paintings and Sculpture
Friedrich Meschede
Born in 1955
Head of Exhibitions/Senior Curator at MACBA
Education
- 1980 - 1985 University of Munster(History of Art)
- 1978 - 1980 University of Wurzburg(History of Art)
Career
- 2008 Present Head of Exhibitions/Senior Curator at MACBA
- 2006 - 07 Guest-Professor at Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste Hamburg and Humboldt-University Berlin
- 1992 - 08 Head of Department of Visual Arts at the Berliner Kunstlerprogramm, Berlin
- 1989 - 92 Artistic Director of Westfalischer Knunstverein Munster, Munster
- 1985 - 88 Assistant curator to Kasper Konig and Klaus Bussmann for the "Munster Skulptur Projekte 1987" at Westfalischer Landesmuseum Munster
James Putnam
Born in 1955
Independent Curator
Education
- 1985 Postgraduate Museums Diploma, Leicester University
- 1976 University of London, University College/Courtauld Institute of Art(History of Art)
Career
- 2009 Guest Curator ‘Mythologies' exhibition, HOV. Burlington Gdns., London
- 1999 - 09 Guest Curator, Freud Museum, London
- 2004 - 05 Associate Curator, Bows Museum, Country Durham, UK
- 2004 Guest Curator, Associazione Arte Continua, San Gimignano, Italy
- 2000 - 03 Curator, Contemporary Arts & Culture Programme, The British Museum, UK
- 1983 - 99 Curator, Egyptian Antiquities Dept, The British Museum, UK
Guest Curator
Kim, Seong-youn
Born in 1964
Artist, Director of Alternative Space Bandee
Education
- 2009 Dong Myung University(finished doctorate course work)
- 1992 New York University(Studio Art)
- 1987 Hong Ik University(Painting, B.F.A)
Career
- 1999 - present Director of Alternative Space Bandee
- 2009 - present Publisher of monthly Art magazine, B-art
- 2004 - present Director of Busan International video Festival
- 2000 PICAF(Pusan International Contemporary Art Festival) subcommissioner