25th Biennale of Sydney Program Announced
The 25th Biennale of Sydney has released the complete details for its upcoming edition, which will commence in mid-March. The event will take place across five key locations, including the White Bay Power Station, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and Penrith Regional Gallery.
Artistic Direction and Theme
Titled "Rememory," a term coined by author Toni Morrison, the Biennale will present works from 83 artists, collaborations, and collectives representing 37 countries, including Australia.
The theme explores the intersection of memory and history as a method for revisiting, reconstructing, and reclaiming historical narratives.
Hoor Al Qasimi is the artistic director, marking her as the first Arab and the eighth woman to hold this position in the festival's 53-year history.
Featured Artworks and Artists
Key art installations announced include a functioning clay oven by Argentinian sculptor Gabriel Chaile at White Bay Power Station. This oven will be activated to serve Peruvian cuisine during the opening weekend and other festival periods. Lebanese artist Mounira Al Solh will create a large vat of tabbouleh as part of a community-based performance in Granville.
A significant presentation will be the 80-square-meter Ngurrara Canvas II, created by Ngurrara artists from the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. This monumental painting, made by over 40 artists to support their 1996 native title claim, will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW for its final public viewing before its permanent return to the artists' country.
Previously announced projects include a multi-channel video by journalist Behrouz Boochani (Kurdistan/Iran/Aotearoa New Zealand), Hoda Afshar (Iran/Australia), and Vernon Ah Kee (Kuku Yalandji, Waanji, Yidinji, Gugu Yimithirr, Australia). This work, part of their Code Black/Riot project, features the voices and experiences of Indigenous youth in detention.
Expanded Venues
The Biennale is expanding its presence in Western Sydney this year, incorporating Penrith Regional Gallery for the first time and returning to Campbelltown Arts Centre. Public programs are also scheduled for Centenary Square in Parramatta, Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, and Redfern Town Hall.
White Bay Power Station will host large-scale sculptural and installation works by artists such as Nikesha Breeze (US) and painter Nancy Yukuwal McDinny (Garrwa/Yanyuwa).
Artistic Director's Background and Controversy
Hoor Al Qasimi has been recognized as a prominent figure in the art world, named the most influential individual in ArtReview magazine's 2024 power list. She has led the Sharjah Biennial for over two decades and founded the Sharjah Art Foundation in 2009. Her curatorial experience includes exhibitions at international galleries and festivals. Al Qasimi is also the daughter of Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah, UAE.
Her appointment has drawn comment from some members of the Jewish community regarding statements she has made concerning the war in Gaza and in support of Palestine.
Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, stated to The Australian that her appointment represented a "flagship cultural institution being captured by an extremist anti-western political agenda."
In November, the Australian Financial Review reported that some donors had withdrawn support from the Biennale following Al Qasimi's appointment.
Biennale's Response
In response to these allegations, a Biennale of Sydney spokesperson issued a statement. The spokesperson affirmed that Hoor Al Qasimi was appointed for her professional expertise and artistic vision and should be judged on her merits and work for the Biennale. The statement also noted that sponsor and donor participation varies with each edition and that the Australian government is the Biennale's most significant consistent supporter.
The Biennale highlighted the importance of public funding for the arts as an investment in democracy, enabling diverse global voices and perspectives, including those that may be challenging, to be heard.
The Biennale of Sydney under Al Qasimi will feature works by several Palestinian artists and collectives, including Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme, Khalil Rabah, and the architecture studio DAAR (Decolonizing Architecture Art Research), led by Sandi Hilal and Alessandro Petti.