'I feel a renewed passion to shape a new era': Youn Bummo takes the reins as president of the Gwangju Biennale

"Heading the Gwangju Biennale Foundation represents a homecoming of sorts for its new president, Youn Bummo. Appointed this summer just ahead of the Gwangju Design Biennale, Youn was part of the organising committee of the Biennale's founding edition in 1995, helping develop what is known as Korea's "Biennale era", and growing the Gwangju Biennale into the globally influential art event it is today. In 2014 he also curated the exhibition Sweet Dew, 1980 and After for the Biennale's tenth edition."

""Now, returning a generation later as its president, I feel a great weight of responsibility, but also a renewed passion to shape a new era of the Biennale," Youn says. "Standing at this turning point, I am deeply aware that our mission is to build on the past three decades to create the next 30 years of history." Next year's 16th edition of the Gwangju Biennale will be helmed by the Singaporean film artist Ho Tzu Nyen."

"After 30 years of being "focused on keeping pace with the global biennale community", the challenge has become cultivating a "distinctly 'Gwangju' identity-a Biennale with character". That requires leaning into and strengthening its unique points, and possibly institutional reform of the foundation. He envisions a Gwangju Biennale that simultaneously is a "hub for generating critical discourse" for arts professionals and a "Biennale for and with citizens... Balancing these two wings will allow us to grow in a sustainable, meaningful way.""

Youn Bummo has been appointed president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation after helping establish its founding 1995 edition and curating its tenth edition in 2014. He expresses renewed passion and a sense of responsibility to build on three decades of history and to shape the next 30 years. The 16th edition will be led by Singaporean film artist Ho Tzu Nyen, expected to reveal a new dimension under an Asian curator. Youn identifies a shifting mandate from merely keeping pace with global biennales toward cultivating a distinctly 'Gwangju' identity. He plans to strengthen unique local characteristics, consider institutional reform, and balance critical discourse for professionals with inclusive engagement for citizens.

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