Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu to Curate the 19th Istanbul Biennial

19th Istanbul Biennale curators Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu. Image courtesy IKSV

19th Istanbul Biennial
September 18 – November 14, 2027

The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) has announced that Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu will curate the 19th Istanbul Biennial, set to take place from September 18 to November 14, 2027.

Working collaboratively since 2007, Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu have developed a research-driven curatorial practice grounded in critical inquiry and historical reflection. Their work engages with the resonances between past and present, particularly in relation to the legacies of socialist realism and the formation of contemporary art discourse in China and beyond. Most recently, they served as Artistic Directors of the 8th Yokohama Triennale (2024), and have curated major international exhibitions including the Anren Biennale (2017), Shenzhen Sculpture Biennale (2012), and Little Movements (2011–2015), a multi-sited project exploring self-practice in contemporary art.

In a joint statement on their appointment, Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu reflect on the curatorial direction of the upcoming edition:

“We are honoured to curate the 19th Istanbul Biennial, a platform long recognised for enabling the boldest of curatorial and artistic ambitions. Today, as we navigate a landscape of extreme political volatility and the pervasive influence of algorithmic technologies, art often finds itself in a state of ‘elsewhere’ – obsessed with seeking external horizons to alleviate our deep-seated existential anxieties. The 19th edition calls for a dire shift in focus. We seek to move beyond reactive commentary and technological escapism to recognise and reclaim the primary agency of art and the individual. By confronting ourselves and the realities of our time, this biennial aims to restore the critical rigour and visceral greatness of ideas and art, creating a space to not just reimagine, but to actively build, a more sovereign and resilient future for artistic practice.”

Further details regarding the Biennial’s title, conceptual framework, venues, and participating artists will be announced in the coming months.

Liu Ding is an artist and curator based in Beijing whose work explores multiple viewpoints and modes of description, connecting historical narratives with contemporary conditions. His practice engages with the complexities of subjectivity in Chinese art, often unfolding through discursive and research-based approaches. He has participated in numerous international biennials, including the Istanbul Biennial (2015), Shanghai Biennale (2014), Taipei Biennial (2012), and the 53rd Venice Biennale (2009). His work has been presented at major institutions worldwide, including Tate Modern, MoMA PS1, Castello di Rivoli, and M+ Museum.

Carol Yinghua Lu is an art historian and curator, currently Director of Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum. She previously served as Artistic Director and Senior Curator of OCAT Shenzhen (2012–2015) and has held research and editorial roles with institutions such as Asia Art Archive and frieze magazine. Her writing has appeared widely across international publications, and her curatorial work spans exhibitions, biennials, and research initiatives across Asia and beyond. She was co-artistic director of the Gwangju Biennale (2012) and has served on numerous international juries and advisory boards.

The 19th Istanbul Biennial is organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), with the sponsorship of 2007–2036 Biennial Sponsor Koç Holding and additional support from international partners and funding bodies. Press and professional previews will take place on 14–17 September, opening to the public between 18 September and 14 November 2027.

The Istanbul Biennial Advisory Board includes academic, critic and museum director Ahu Antmen; curator Lydia Gatundu Galavu; artist Gözde İlkin; researcher and curator Renan Laru-an, and curator and museum director Sally Tallant.