The Sydney Biennale, which will be exhibited throughout the city from March next year, will be led by Japanese curator Mami Kataoka as artistic director.

A number of international heavyweights are on her list, such as Ai Weiwei, UK artist duo Semiconductor, and Finnish artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila. The list also features Australian contemporaries such as Brook Andrew, Yasmin Smith, and George Tjungurrayi.

While the title and overarching theme for the Biennale is yet to be unveiled, and installation and artwork specifics are still to be confirmed, Kataoka’s Sydney Biennale will delve into the event’s rich archive and surprising history, drawing upon 45 years of art and encounters.

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“One of the major differences of the Sydney Biennale is its history,” says Kataoka. “Ever since I was asked to take on the role of artistic director, my question was – do we still need a biennale? It’s important to think about the meaning of the Biennale. I wanted to explore the archive and to know more about its history. Its history has been in tandem with the development of art and art institutions in the city.”

The full list of 21 artists is as follows:

Eija-Liisa Ahtila

Ai Weiwei

Brook Andrew

Oliver Beer

Anya Gallaccio

Laurent Grasso

N.S. Harsha

Mit Jai Inn

Kate Newby

Noguchi Rika

Nguyen Trinh Thi

Ciara Phillips

Koji Ryui

Semiconductor (Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt)

Yasmin Smith

George Tjungurrayi

Nicole Wong

Wong Hoy Cheong

Yukinori Yanagi

Haegue Yang

Jun Yang

biennaleofsydney.com.au