China pulls Artists from Gwangju Biennale over ‘Taiwan Pavilion' Name
China withdraws its artists from the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea on Friday after organizers approved the name “Taiwan Pavilion."
Chinese exhibition staff and others preparing the pavilion exhibition at the Ha Jung-woong Art Museum in Gwangju withdrew at the request of the Chinese Embassy, Korean paper MBC wrote. The move followed a visit to Gwangju on Thursday by Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing and Chinese Consul General in Gwangju Gu Jingqing, who expressed regret over the approval of the “Taiwan Pavilion” name.
The meeting was intended as a courtesy visit following the launch of Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City and Min’s inauguration as mayor. However, the naming dispute was raised during the meeting.
Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai expressed regret and concern, over the organizers’ decision to accept Taiwan's request. Min reportedly responded that "political considerations should not affect the field of art.”
The dispute began in June, when the foundation changed the pavilion's name to "NTMoFA Pavilion,” using the abbreviation for the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Taiwan criticized the move as political censorship, while the foundation attributed the change to differences over the name of the participating entity.
The Gwangju Biennale Foundation said on Tuesday that, after reviewing an application for approval of a name change submitted by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, it approved the pavilion’s name as Taiwan Pavilion.