Diplomacy

Taiwan Pushes Back Over Gwangju Biennale Name

Published
Updated

By TaiwanPlus

Open in App

Taiwan’s government is responding after the Gwangju Biennale changed the name for Taiwan’s pavilion. Artists and curators raised concerns after the show referred to Taiwan as NTMoFA, short for the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says Taiwan’s foreign and culture ministries are monitoring the issue and negotiating with the Gwangju city government and organizers. Critics called the change an act of censorship aimed at avoiding Taiwan’s name. 

Artists Protest Taiwan Name Censorship at Gwangju Biennale

REPORTER:  
Artists and curators raised concern after the show referred to Taiwan by N-T-M-O-F-A – short for National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Critics called this an act of censorship to avoid using Taiwan’s name.

The Gwangju Biennale was founded to commemorate the city’s 1980 uprising against military dictatorship and is one of Asia’s most prestigious art events. The show is planned to open next month.

Ten artists and curators have issued a protest after the show’s materials used N-T-M-O-F-A – short for National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts – to refer to Taiwan. They call the name change an act of censorship they say threatens freedom of expression and artists worldwide. Lin says the foreign and culture ministries are helping the museum negotiate with the organizers and Gwangju’s city government, and they will do their utmost to make sure the event is held the way it was agreed. The Gwangju Biennale is slated to open on September 5th. It was founded to commemorate the 1980 Gwangju Uprising against military dictatorship and is one of Asia’s most prestigious art events.