The 14th edition of the Taipei Biennial, Whispers on the Horizon, is set to open on November 1 at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM). Curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, the exhibition will showcase the works of 72 artists from 37 cities, featuring 34 new commissions and site-specific installations across various mediums such as painting, sculpture, film, photography, and performance.
Whispers on the Horizon delves into the theme of yearning as a fundamental human drive that transcends the boundaries of possibility, conveying the essence of the future through subtle whispers rather than bold proclamations. The conceptual framework of the exhibition revolves around three poignant objects borrowed from Taiwan’s literary and cinematic heritage – the puppet from Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s The Puppetmaster (1993), the diary from Chen Yingzhen’s My Kid Brother Kangxiong (1960), and the bicycle from Wu Ming-Yi’s The Stolen Bicycle (2015). These objects symbolize continuity, interiority, and pursuit, respectively, forming the invisible architecture of the Biennial and shaping its emotional and temporal narrative.
In addition to contemporary works, the Biennial will also feature around 30 pieces from the Taipei Fine Arts Museum’s collection, serving as living agents of yearning that bridge the past with the present. The exhibition space will be transformed with suspended textile partitions, creating permeable thresholds that encourage visibility and connection among the artworks.
The exhibition highlights on different levels of the museum showcase works that explore themes of craft, memory, care, survival, transformation, and connection. From Ciou Zih-Yan’s “Fake Airfield” reconstructing a decoy airstrip to Ivana Bašić’s sculptures capturing the act of breathing, each piece invites viewers to contemplate the various facets of yearning and human experience.
Director of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Li-chen Loh, emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity and reflecting on the ties between local experiences and global contexts through the Biennial. Visitors are encouraged to reconsider their place in an interconnected world through the lens of yearning and artistic expression.
For more information on the Taipei Biennial, visit their official website at taipeibiennial.org/2025 or follow TFAM’s social media channels on Facebook and Instagram for updates and insights into the exhibition.
