Gwangju Biennale

[Anchor Lead]

The 11th Gwangju Biennale will kick off next week. Meanwhile, an international art fair started today prior to the biennale's official opening, turning the whole city into an cultural exhibition hall.

[Pkg]

The Gwangju Biennale is now solidly among the world's five greatest biennales. Celebrating its 11th biennial festival, the Biennale's theme this year is "The Eighth Climate." The festivity aims to bring together the earth's reality represented by the planet's seven climates and a future predicted by artists.

[Soundbite] Maria Lind(Artistic Director, Gwangju Biennale)

The exhibition hall will be filled with the artworks of 120 artists from 37 countries. This year's Biennale differs from the previous ones in that exhibitions will be held not only at the festival venue, but all over the city. Also, starting today, the Gwangju International Art Fair 2016 will be held at the Asia Culture Center, where a special exhibit will be featured for the duration of the 66-day Biennale. As foreign and local artists and galleries flock to Gwangju, the city is turning into one huge art exhibit.