Jacob Fabricius named Artistic Director for Busan Biennale 2020

The Busan Biennale has its origins in the Busan Youth Biennale, which was established in 1981 through independent efforts by young Busan-area artists.

To reinforce the unique identity of youthfulness, dynamism, and openness it has established over the years and develop Busan Biennale 2020 into an exhibition that brings a new perspective to contemporary art, the committee has been in a process of exploring internal and external changes, including a search for a new location. As part of this took place on the selection process for the Busan Biennale 2020 artistic director.

Jacob Fabricius, the individual selected as Busan Biennale 2020 artistic director, is a Danish-based exhibition curator who currently serves as artistic director for Kunsthal Aarhus in the Danish city of Aarhus. Fabricius is also active as a board member of the Danish Arts Foundation’s Committee for Visual Arts. His career includes stints as associated curator at Cneai in Paris, France (2015–2016), artistic director at Copenhagen’s Kunsthal Charlottenborg (2013–2014), artistic director of Malmö Konsthall in Malmö, Sweden (2008–2013), and curator of CASM in Barcelona, Spain (2006–2008).

Some of the major exhibitions he has planned recently include SUPERFLEX’s We Are All In The Same Boat, Miami, USA (2018), Gillian Wearing’s A Real Danish Family, Copenhagen, Denmark (2017), and the 6th Biennale of Moving Images, Mechelen, Belgium (2013).

Despite having little time for preparations (Busan Biennale 2020 will take place in September 2020), Fabricius rooted in a profound understanding of Busan’s local character and history. He supported a boundary-broadening concept actively applying literature and music. Fabricius is scheduled to visit Busan in early August to broaden his research on local identity through visits to the exhibition venue and various sites while meeting with artists from Busan and other parts of South Korea to further flesh out his exhibition proposal.