ENNOVA Art Biennale
The inaugural "ENNOVA International Art Biennale," proudly presented by the Ennova Art Museum, will grace Langfang City in Hebei Province with its presence. Spanning from October 26, 2024, through to April 30, 2025, the event promises an immersive journey through the contemporary art landscape. At the helm of this prestigious Biennale is the esteemed Fumio Nanjo, a luminary in the field of curation, art criticism, and academia, whose international acclaim guides the vision and execution of this artistic celebration.
This biennial exhibition draws inspiration from the theme of "Boundary," and is thoughtfully segmented into four thematic areas: "Sound Consciousness," "Boundary Imagination," "Sustainability and Environment," and "Multiple Realities." Anchored in these concepts, the Biennale extends a warm invitation to approximately 100 artists and collectives, who are recognized for their expansive academic perspectives, progressive zeitgeist, and a rich tapestry of creative approaches, to showcase their works.
About Main Curator
As the principal curator of the Biennale, Mr. Fumio Nanjo is celebrated for his global influence in the arts. His tenure as the director of the Mori Museum of Art in Tokyo from 2006 to 2019 was marked by a transformation that positioned the institution as a pivotal nexus for contemporary art, both in Asia and globally. Mr. Nanjo's expertise is deeply rooted in the planning of biennials and triennials, with a distinguished track record that includes leading roles such as the director of the Japan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Chief Curator for the Taipei Biennale, co-curator for both the Sydney Biennale and the Yokohama Triennale, and Artistic Director of the Singapore Biennale. His philosophy for curating large-scale exhibitions is both sophisticated and field-tested, encapsulated in his belief that "There is no one-size-fits-all model for biennials; each should be distinct, even those held in the same city. I envision a Biennale that is infused with both local and international flavors, enriched by an Asian perspective."
About Exhibition Section
1.Sound Consciousness
Sound is becoming an important element in art.They range from sounds emitted by the human body (i.e., voices) and sounds produced by the human body to mechanical sounds and digital music produced by computers. From sounds found in nature, to artificial sounds, to the sounds of the future created by AI, various sounds are becoming the source of new expression.
By combining music with performance, kinetic art, and robots, art works with visual appeal are born. Also, by reading a variety of sound sources in response to the current situation, art creates unique expressions and questions people about the possibility of their own creation and expansion of their senses.
2.Boundary Imagination
It can be said that western science started from categorizing things in front of us, deepened our understanding of the world by reading the meaning of each thing, and reconstructed the world by assembling these concepts.
In reality, however, there are no boundaries between genres and no categories. Everything is connected and interconnected. As a result, creative thinking often goes beyond boundaries and fuses with neighbouring areas to find new inspiration and create new expressions. Isn't it because there is a new perspective that innovative inventions and discoveries often occur on boundaries?
In this section, we will introduce various forms of expression that transcend genres. These include fashion, architecture, photography, design, philosophy, music, taste, touch, and so on.
3.Sustainability and Environment
The biggest global challenge today is about the earth environment. Not only global warming, but also the existence of urban environmental issues, often referred to metaphorically as 'giant garbage cans', depletion of water and food, and air pollution. Among these environment-related artistic expressions are works that use waste materials to warn of environmental problems, works that call attention to endangered species, works that propose circular economy, and works that hint at the environmental future of the earth.
For example, buildings that reflect the natural environment around them like mirrors, fashion pieces made from recycled materials, and technological proposals for artificial foods all urge people to think about the environment and sustainability. These works will form a unique part of an exhibition that speaks to the future of environmental issues.
4.Multiple realities
Currently, AI and biotechnology are advancing at an accelerated pace, and they have the potential to change the way humans live. For example, today's genetic engineering is making it possible to design new life into a sustainable body, or even to produce it in a smart child. Human beings will be rejuvenated and will be able to nearly double their lifespan. AI may surpass human wisdom, and robots are acting as human agents. In the future, life in space may transform humans into new creatures. And one day, the world without human beings as it is now may come. Human-centered thinking will come to an end and man will realize that he is a small part of the world. What is the meaning and role of art at that time?
Discussing the leap of technology is nothing but an image of the future of human civilization. It is the right and duty of today's human beings to live in the present with such a grand vision.