By Woo Jae-yeon
The Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2026 will explore the theme of “Liberation Space: Fortress/Nest,” under the direction of Artistic Director Binna Choi.
Speaking at a press conference at the Arts Council Korea on Thursday, Choi emphasized the resonance of the theme for Koreans, particularly given the recent experience with a failed martial law declaration and its ongoing impact.
“As author Han Kang asked in her Nobel Prize lecture, ‘Can the past help the present? Can the dead save the living?’ I had to ask myself what role contemporary art could play in this world,” she said. “I contemplated what we, as artists, could do to honor those who took to the streets in the name of democracy.”
She explained that the “fortress and nest” concept was inspired by both the current social climate and the turbulent period in Korean history between 1945 and 1948, following liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
Choi is collaborating with artists Choi Go-en and Ro Hye-ree to realize this artistic vision, transforming the Korean Pavilion into a “liberation space” through their respective site-specific installations, “Meridian” and “Bearing.”
Choi Go-en’s “Meridian” utilizes repurposed industrial materials, like copper water pipes, to explore the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The installation will traverse the pavilion, aiming to unblock pressure points and restore the flow of energy within.
Ro Hye-ree’s “Bearing” incorporates sculpture, performance, and video, drawing on both global events and personal narratives. She invites viewers to move beyond symbolic and social constructs and discover universal meaning within shared human experiences. Eight “stations” draped in sheer fabric will be installed within the pavilion, offering visitors spaces for pause, mourning, and remembrance.
Within the “mourn” station, Nobel laureate Han Kang will present “The Funeral,” a sculpture depicting blackened trees on a snow-covered landscape. This image is inspired by a dream that also fueled her 2024 novel, “We Do Not Part,” which focuses on the tragic massacre of civilians on Jeju Island in 1948.
The 61st Venice Biennale will be open from May 9 to Nov. 22.
