The 14th Taipei Biennial Investigates Collective Desires and Future Prospects

The 14th edition of the Taipei Biennial, titled “Whispers on the Horizon,” is opening on November 1 at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM). Curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, this exhibition showcases the work of 52 artists from 35 cities, with 33 of the pieces being new commissions and site-specific installations. Centered around the theme of “yearning,” the event explores the present-day urgency of longing for justice, recognition, and belonging.

Drawing inspiration from three notable artifacts – a puppet from Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s “The Puppetmaster,” a diary from Chen Yingzhen’s “My Little Brother Kangxiong,” and a bicycle from Wu Ming-Yi’s “The Stolen Bicycle” – the biennial highlights the tension between loss and desire. These objects serve as powerful symbols, demonstrating that yearning is a lived experience.

The exhibition includes an eclectic mix of artworks, including Korakrit Arunanondchai’s “Love after Death,” which combines memories and myth within a ghostly ritual; Omar Mismar’s scentless floral installation “Still My Eyes Water,” reflecting the transient memory of Palestine; and Zih-Yan Ciou’s “Fake Airfield,” which critiques historical narratives and Taiwanese identity.

Immersive site-specific projects include Álvaro Urbano’s “TABLEAU VIVANT (A Stolen Sun),” a silent theater installation; Fatma Abdulhadi’s aromatic garden “What Remains… Stay as Long as You Can”; and Gaëlle Choisne’s “Fortune Cookies,” an installation filled with handcrafted clay pieces.

Curators Bardaouil and Fellrath emphasize the biennial’s goal to make the tensions of yearning palpable, offering it as an experience that is relevant and shared in the present. In conjunction with the opening, a live performance by Jacopo Benassi and a two-day forum featuring six panels will discuss themes like yearning, history, and collaboration. Notable contributors include writer Wu Ming-Yi and artists Mona Hatoum, Ivana Bašić, and Wu Chia-Yun.

For more information, visit taipeibiennial.org/2025, and stay updated by following TFAM on social media.