Biennale of Sydney

18th BIENNALE OF SYDNEY 2012

27 Jun - 16 Sep 2012

18th BIENNALE OF SYDNEY 2012
All our relations
27 June - 16 September 2012

Artistic Directors: Catherine de Zegher & Gerald McMaster

We are moving on from a century in which the radical in the arts largely adopted principles of separation, negativity and disruption as strategies of change. Based on oppositional thinking, such modernist principles proved tenacious and acted as a default criticality in a world in which the drive to progress became more complicated and the consequences more ambiguous.

A changing reality is apparent in a renewed attention to how things connect – how we relate to each other and to the world we inhabit. Art is a part of this growing awareness. Where once there was an emphasis on alienation and distance, there are now concurrent shifts of thinking that are informing the work of artists and writers across the world. These shifts – incipient and partly unformed – are only now beginning to be acknowledged, but are of real significance.

In the arts, as elsewhere, analytical reflection has led to an understanding that human beings are highly dependent upon our often overlooked relationships with others and with our common world. While this connective model is still embedded in a few societies, established western cultural patterns have tended to emphasise the fragmentation and isolation of the individual. As a result, there are relatively few remaining models of participatory forms of perception and sensibility. A reciprocal relation calls for a profound re-evaluation and the development of new models of working together within our changing reality. One of the things that art can do is to allow us a space for such attention – for thinking together that is open-ended.

The 18th Biennale of Sydney focuses on inclusionary practices of generative thinking, such as collaboration, conversation and compassion, in the face of coercion and destruction. With the creation of conditions for an encounter in consonance with our surrounding world, this event brings emphasis to what is already happening at large. Drawing on the possibility of the present, the Biennale emerges from the engagement of all participants by using a model that begins with two curators in dialogue. This matrix of conversation extends to both artists and audiences in a multi-vocal correspondence.

all our relations relies on these various exchanges, affinities and empathies as its dynamic structure, the vascular and cellular structure and sinew of a kind of living, breathing organism, from which the Biennale’s meanings grow. Artists work in a context that allows for mutual recognition and audiences from differing backgrounds are part of this continual development, finding their own direction in these connections. It is in this altered attention to one another, in the meeting and making of ideas together, that constructive consequence can follow.

In seeking conjunctive energies, this collaboration has taken place on many different levels: in co-existence, conversation and juxtaposition but also in purposeful connectivity. Within this framework of mutuality, recognition and thoughtfulness, disparate ideas – some distantly and some closely related – are brought together in an exhibition process of composition; much akin to the process of thought itself. Artists, who can often feel isolated in their practice, come together with neighbouring artists. Rather than one work appearing to link to one or two other works, an attunement between all creative impulses takes place in time. Projects correspond as if evolving from each other and progress through the sequence of venues and buildings. This interconnection and interdependency occurs in the knowledge that audiences will take elements from the exhibition and connect them with their own experiences. In this shared space, the meaning and consequence of the artists’ works is engendered.

all our relations has its roots in storytelling as it is currently being re-imagined, as a coming-into-being in relation. In the reciprocity that is storytelling, both teller and listener inhabit the space of the story. Telling stories connects us and allows us to care, to be: it fosters collaboration; it aggregates knowledge and generates new ideas; it ignites change; and, ultimately, it builds community. In this matrix, the different projects can be compared to a set of storylines, which artists, curators and audiences relate and translate. Through this process, a collective composition or new Gesamtkunstwerk is accomplished in the active generation of meanings realised by all those who take part, each taking their stories home and beyond ...

Artists:

Jorge MacchiJorge Macchi - Born 1963 in Buenos Aires, Argentina | Lives and works in Buenos Aires
Subhankar BanerjeeSubhankar Banerjee - Born 1967 in Berhampore, India | Lives and works in Santa Fe, USA
Maria LaetMaria Laet - Born 1982 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Lives and works in Rio de Janeiro
Judy WatsonJudy Watson - Born 1959 in Mundubbera, Australia | Lives and works in Brisbane, Australia
Yuken Teruya Yuken Teruya - Born 1973 in Okinawa, Japan | Lives and works in New York, USA
Binh DanhBinh Danh - Born 1977 in Rach Giá, Vietnam | Lives and works in San Jose, USA
Dorothy Napangardi Dorothy Napangardi - Born 1956 in Mina Mina, Australia | Lives and works in Alice Springs and Nyrripi, Australia
Nipan Oranniwesna Nipan Oranniwesna - Born 1962 in Bangkok, Thailand | Lives and works in Bangkok
Yun-Fei Ji Yun-Fei Ji - Born 1963 in Beijing, China | Lives and works in Beijing and New York, USA
Sudsiri Pui-OckSudsiri Pui-Ock - Born 1976 in Chiang Mai, Thailand | Lives and works in Chiang Mai
Jin ShiJin Shi - Born 1976 in Xintai, China | Lives and works in Hangzhou, China
Gao RongGao Rong - Born 1986 in Batou City, Inner Mongolia, China | Lives and works in Beijing, China
Hassan Sharif Hassan Sharif - Born 1951 in Dubai, UAE | Lives and works in Dubai
Bouchra KhaliliBouchra Khalili - Born 1975 in Casablanca, Morocco | Lives and works between Paris and Berlin
Jananne Al-AniJananne Al-Ani - Born 1966 in Kirkuk, Iraq. Lives and works in London, England
Sarah Vanagt and Katrien Vermeire Sarah Vanagt and Katrien Vermeire - Sarah Vanagt. Born 1976 in Bruges, Belgium | Lives and works in Brussels, Belgium. Katrien Vermeire Born 1979 in Ostend, Belgium | Lives and works in Brussels, Belgium
Juan Manuel Echavarría Juan Manuel Echavarría - Born 1947 in Medellín, Colombia | Lives and works in Bogotá, Colombia
Farideh LashaiFarideh Lashai - Born 1944 in Rasht, Iran | Lives and works in Tehran, Iran
Postcommodity Postcommodity - Formed 2006 in Phoenix, USA
John WolseleyJohn Wolseley - Born 1938 in Nettlecombe, England | Lives and works in Bendigo, Australia
Alexis DestoopAlexis Destoop - Born 1971 in Kortrijk, Belgium | Lives and works in Brussels, Belgium and Sydney, Australia
Guido van der WerveGuido van der Werve - Born 1977 in Papendrecht, The Netherlands | Lives and works in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Hassi, Finland
Phil Hastings Phil Hastings - Born 1969 in Xenia, USA | Lives and works in Silver Creek, USA
Alan MichelsonAlan Michelson - Born 1953 in Buffalo, USA | Lives and works in New York, USA
Pinaree SanpitakPinaree Sanpitak - Born 1961 in Bangkok, Thailand | Lives and works in Bangkok
Alwar BalasubramaniamAlwar Balasubramaniam - Born 1971 in Tamil Nadu, India | Lives and works in Bangalore, India
Yoshihiro SudaYoshihiro Suda - Born 1969 in Yamanashi, Japan | Lives and works in Tokyo, Japan
Khaled SabsabiKhaled Sabsabi - Born 1965 in Tripoli, Lebanon | Lives and works in Sydney, Australia
David AspdenDavid Aspden - Born 1935 in Bolton, England | Died 2005 in Sydney, Australia
Mit Jai InnMit Jai Inn - Born 1960 in Chiang Mai, Thailand | Lives and works in Chiang Mai
Lee MingweiLee Mingwei - Born 1964 in Taichung, Taiwan | Lives and works in New York, USA
Gabriella Mangano and Silvana Mangano Gabriella Mangano and Silvana Mangano - Born 1972 in Stanthorpe, Australia | Live and work in Melbourne, Australia
Makinti NapanangkaMakinti Napanangka - Born c.1930 in Kintore, Australia | Died 2011 in Alice Springs, Australia
Zoe Keramea Zoe Keramea - Born 1955 in Athens, Greece | Lives and works in Athens and New York, USA
Nyapanyapa YunupinguNyapanyapa Yunupingu - Born c.1945 in Yirrkala, Australia | Lives and works in Yirrkala
Nicholas Hlobo Nicholas Hlobo - Born 1975 in Cape Town, South Africa | Lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa
El AnatsuiEl Anatsui - Born 1944 in Anyako, Ghana | Lives and works in Nsukka, Nigeria
Arin Rungjang Arin Rungjang - Born 1975 in Bangkok, Thailand | Lives and works in Bangkok
Judith WrightJudith Wright - Born 1945 in Brisbane, Australia | Lives and works in Brisbane
Yeesookyung and Park Young-Sook Yeesookyung and Park Young-Sook - Yeesookyung. Born 1963 in Seoul, South Korea | Lives and works in Seoul. Park Young-Sook. Born 1947 in Gyeong-ju, Korea | Lives and works in Seoul, Korea.
Phaptawan Suwannakudt Phaptawan Suwannakudt - Born 1959 in Bangkok, Thailand | Lives and works in Sydney, Australia
Liang QuanLiang Quan - Born 1948 in Shanghai, China | Lives and works in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, China
Kamin LertchaiprasertKamin Lertchaiprasert - Born 1964 in Lopburi, Thailand | Lives and works Chiang Mai, Thailand
Tim Johnson Tim Johnson - Born 1947 in Sydney, Australia | Lives and works in Sydney
Liu ZhuoquanLiu Zhuoquan - Born 1964 in Wuhan, China | Lives and works in Beijing, China
Alick TipotiAlick Tipoti - Born 1975 in Badu Island, Australia | Lives and works in Cairns, Australia
Gade Gade - Born 1971 in Lhasa, Tibet | Lives and works in Lhasa
Shuvinai Ashoona and John Noestheden Shuvinai Ashoona and John Noestheden - Born 1961 in Cape Dorset, Canada | Lives and works in Cape Dorset
Honore d"OHonore d'O - Born 1961 in Oudenaarde, Belgium | Lives and works in Ghent
Jon PylypchukJon Pylypchuk - Born 1972 in Winnipeg, Canada | Lives and works in Los Angeles, USA
Daan Roosegaarde Daan Roosegaarde - Born 1979 in Nieuwkoop, The Netherlands | Lives and works in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Shanghai, China
Fujiko NakayaFujiko Nakaya - Born 1933 in Sapporo, Japan | Lives and works in Tokyo, Japan
Ann Veronica JanssensAnn Veronica Janssens - Born 1956 in Folkestone, England | Lives and works in Brussels, Belgium
Reinier Rietveld and Craigie Horsfield Reinier Rietveld and Craigie Horsfield - Reinier Rietveld. Born 1963 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands | Lives and works in Rotterdam.
Peter RobinsonPeter Robinson - Born 1966 in Ashburton, New Zealand | Lives and works in Auckland, New Zealand
Cal Lane Cal Lane - Born 1968 in Halifax, Canada | Lives and works in New York, USA
Jess MacNeilJess MacNeil - Born 1977 in Inverness, Canada | Lives and works in London, England and Sydney, Australia
Cristina IglesiasCristina Iglesias - Born 1956 in San Sebastian, Spain | Lives and works in Madrid, Spain
Philip BeesleyPhilip Beesley - Born 1956 in Westcliff-on-Sea, England | Lives and works in Toronto, Canada
Ed Pien with Tanya Tagaq Ed Pien with Tanya Tagaq - Ed Pien. Born 1958 in Taipei, Taiwan | Lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Tanya Tagaq Born 1975 in Cambridge Bay, Canada | Lives and works in Manitoba, Canada
Monika Grzymala and Euraba Artists and Papermakers Monika Grzymala and Euraba Artists and Papermakers - Born 1970 in Zabrze, Poland | Lives and works in Berlin, Germany
Adam Cvijanovic Adam Cvijanovic - Born 1960 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA | Lives and works in New York, USA
Sachiko AbeSachiko Abe - Born 1975 in Nara, Japan | Lives and works in Fukuoka, Japan
Maria Fernanda Cardoso and Ross Rudesch Harley Maria Fernanda Cardoso and Ross Rudesch Harley - Maria Fernanda Cardoso. Born 1963 in Bogotá, Colombia | Lives and works in Sydney, Australia. Ross Rudesch Harley Born 1961 in Sydney, Australia| Lives and works in Sydney
Eva Kot’átkováEva Kot’átková - Born 1982 Prague, Czech Republic | Lives and works in Prague
Jonathan Jones Jonathan Jones - Born 1978 in Sydney, Australia | Lives and works in Sydney
Robin RhodeRobin Rhode - Born 1976 in Cape Town, South Africa | Lives and works in Berlin, Germany
Susan HefunaSusan Hefuna - Born 1962 in Düsseldorf, Germany | Lives and works in Cairo, Egypt, Düsseldorf and New York, USA
Bahar Behbahani and Almagul Menlibayeva Bahar Behbahani and Almagul Menlibayeva - Bahar Behbahani. Born 1973 in Tehran, Iran | Lives and works in Tehran and New York, USA. Almagul Menlibayeva. Born 1969 in Kazakhstan Lives and works in Berlin and Kazakhstan
Nina Canell and Robin Watkins Nina Canell and Robin Watkins - Nina Canell. Born 1979 in Växjö, Sweden | Lives and works in Berlin, Germany. Robin Watkins Born 1980 in Stockholm, Sweden | Lives and works in Berlin, Germany
Tiffany SinghTiffany Singh - Born 1978 in Auckland, New Zealand | Lives and works in Auckland
Imran QureshiImran Qureshi - Born 1972 in Hyderabad, Pakistan | Lives and works in Lahore, Pakistan
Iris Häussler Iris Häussler - Born 1962 in Friedrichshafen, Germany | Lives and works in Toronto, Canada
Alec FinlayAlec Finlay - Born 1966 in Inverness, Scotland | Lives and works in Newcastle, England
Mark LicariMark Licari - Born 1975 in Atlanta, USA | Lives and works in Los Angeles, USA
Ria VerhaegheRia Verhaeghe - Born 1950 in Roeselare, Belgium | Lives and works in Bruges, Belgium
Khadija BakerKhadija Baker - Born 1973 in Amuda, Syria | Lives and works in Montreal, Canada
Latifa EchakhchLatifa Echakhch - Born 1974 in El Khnansa, Morocco | Lives and works in Paris, France and Martigny, Switzerland
Nadia MyreNadia Myre - Born 1974 in Montreal, Canada | Lives and works in Montreal
Everlyn Nicodemus Everlyn Nicodemus - Born 1954 in Marangu, Tanzania | Lives and works in Edinburgh, Scotland
Ewa Partum Ewa Partum - Born 1945 in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland | Lives and works Berlin, Germany
Ricardo LanzariniRicardo Lanzarini - Born 1963 in Montevideo, Uruguay | Lives and works in Montevideo
Li HongboLi Hongbo - Born 1974 in Jilin, China | Lives and works in Beijing, China
Erin ManningErin Manning - Born 1969 in Ottawa, Canada | Lives and works in Montreal, Canada
Carlos GaraicoaCarlos Garaicoa - Born 1967 in Havana, Cuba | Lives and works in Havana and Madrid, Spain
Sriwhana SpongSriwhana Spong - Born 1979 in Auckland, New Zealand | Lives and works in Auckland
Lyndal JonesLyndal Jones - Born 1949 in Sydney, Australia | Lives and works in Melbourne and Avoca, Australia
Cecilia VicuñaCecilia Vicuña - Born 1948 in Santiago, Chile | Lives and works in New York, USA
Jin NüJin Nü - Born 1984 in Qinhuangdao, China | Lives and works in Beijing, China
Anne Teresa De KeersmaekerAnne Teresa De Keersmaeker - Born 1960 in Mechelen, Belgium | Lives and works in Brussels, Belgium
Junling Yang Junling Yang - Born 1981 in Jiuquan, China | Lives and works in Beijing, China
 

Tags: El Anatsui, Bahar Behbahani, Nina Canell, Maria Fernanda Cardoso, Adam Cvijanovic, Juan Manuel Echavarría, Gade, Monika Grzymala, Nicholas Hlobo, Craigie Horsfield, Jess, Yun-Fei Ji, Ou Jin, Tim Johnson, Lu Liang, Almagul Menlibayeva, Nyapanyapa, Nipan Oranniwesna, Ewa Partum, Ed Pien, Postcommodity, Arin Rungjang, Hassan Sharif, Yuken Teruya, Yeesookyung, Hu Yun