The world seems to be becoming increasingly unequal and uncertain. This may partly be due to the discordant co-existence of varying interpretations of history, politics and belief systems. In this lecture, Mami Kataoka, artistic director of the current 21st Biennale of Sydney, will discuss works by artists participating in the Biennale in order to create an overview of a multi-layered society. Taking Sydney as a starting point, which she will consider as a microcosm of the world, Kataoka will look at overlapping perspectives surrounding ideas about nature, cosmic order, history and art history. These differing viewpoints also respond to the historical, architectural and conceptual specificities of the seven venues in Sydney in which they are displayed.
About the contributors
Mami Kataoka
Mami Kataoka is the chief curator of Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Prior to this, Kataoka was the chief curator at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, 1997-2002, and a researcher at the NLI Research Institute on cultural policies and urban development projects. She has worked internationally as the international curator the Hayward Gallery, London, and as the Co-Artistic Director for the 9th Gwangju Biennale in South Korea, 2012. Kataoka currently serves as Board Member of CIMAM and is professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design.
Kataoka’s recently curated exhibitions include: “Ai Weiwei: According to What?” (2009/ US Tour 2012-13), “Lee Bul” (2012), “Makoto Aida” (2012), “Lee Mingwei and His Relations” (2014-15), and “N. S. Harsha: Charming Journey” (2017). She also guest curated “Phantoms of Asia: Contemporary Awakens the Past” (2012) at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. |
