The Taipei Biennial is back with its 14th edition, titled “Whispers on the Horizon,” curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath. This highly anticipated exhibition is set to open on November 1 at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) and will feature 52 artists from 35 cities worldwide, showcasing 33 commissioned works and site-specific installations.
The theme of the biennial revolves around the concept of yearning, not as a mere nostalgia, but as a powerful tension between the real and the desired. In today’s world, yearning has taken on a new urgency as a collective pursuit for justice, recognition, and belonging in the face of erasure.
Inspired by three artifacts – a puppet from Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s film “The Puppetmaster” (1993), a diary from Chen Yingzhen’s short story “My Little Brother Kangxiong” (1960), and a bicycle from Wu Ming-Yi’s novel “The Stolen Bicycle” (2015) – the biennial aims to encapsulate both loss and desire, emphasizing that yearning is a lived experience, not merely abstract.
“Whispers on the Horizon” will feature a diverse range of works, including film, performance, sculpture, and immersive environments. Some of the highlights include Korakrit Arunanondchai’s installation “Love after Death,” Omar Mismar’s “Still My Eyes Water,” and Zih-Yan Ciou’s “Fake Airfield,” each offering a unique perspective on the theme of yearning.
The exhibition will also showcase immersive and participatory site-specific installations, such as Álvaro Urbano’s “TABLEAU VIVANT (A Stolen Sun),” Fatma Abdulhadi’s “What Remains… Stay as Long as You Can,” and Gaëlle Choisne’s “Fortune Cookies,” each inviting viewers to engage with the artworks on a deeper level.
Curators Bardaouil and Fellrath expressed that the works in the biennial seek to make the tensions of yearning tangible, rather than resolving them. The exhibition promises to offer a thought-provoking and immersive experience that explores the complexities of yearning in the present day.
In addition to the exhibition, there will be live performances and a two-day forum with panels discussing themes of yearning, belonging, dissonance, history, seeing, and collaboration. The event will feature contributions from acclaimed artists and thinkers, sparking conversations about art’s ability to challenge assumptions and open new possibilities.
For more information about the Taipei Biennial 2025, visit the official website at taipeibiennial.org/2025. Stay updated by following TFAM on Facebook and Instagram.
