Biennale of Sydney

Ten Thousand Suns

Ten Thousand Suns

Curatorial Statement

“Together with the entire team of the Biennale of Sydney, we are humbled and full of joy as we announce a partial list of artists participating in the 24th Biennale. In addition, we are delighted to unveil this edition’s title, share further curatorial insights, and showcase the exceptional design work by Wkshps.

“The 24th Biennale of Sydney works across time periods, beyond the borders separating cultural practices rooted in different genealogies, and from all continents. The edition owes a profound debt to the rich heritage of what is known today as Australia, especially to the struggles and practices in which First Nations communities and migrants have played key roles.

“The artists’ practices are firmly rooted in diverse communities and artistic vocabularies, inviting audiences to bear witness to multiple histories. The exhibition carries hope to resist the mainstream mindsets of perpetual crisis that often leads to inaction.

“The 24th Biennale of Sydney proposes celebration as both a method and a source of joy, produced in common and broadly shared, drawing inspiration from histories of queer coming-together to thrive in spite of it all. It invokes a spirit of abundance and generosity as powerful political tools. This edition revisits legacies of collective resistance, strength, and exuberance, while celebrating the exhibition as a carnival of rays and radiance, aptly titled Ten Thousand Suns.”

Cosmin Costinaș and Inti Guerrero, 24th Biennale of Sydney Artistic Directors

Artist List

Adebunmi Gbadebo (USA), Alberto Pitta (Brazil), Andrew Thomas Huang (USA), Anne Samat (Malaysia / USA), Bonita Ely (Australia), Christopher Myers (USA), Citra Sasmita (Indonesia), Darrell Sibosado (Bard/Noongar, Australia), Doreen Chapman (Manyjilyjarra, Australia), Eisa Jocson (Philippines), Elyas Alavi (Hazara, Afghanistan / Australia), Francisco Toledo (Mexico), Freddy Mamani (The Plurinational State of Bolivia), Hayv Kahraman (Iraq / Sweden / USA), Idas Losin (Truku/Atayal, Taiwan), I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih (Murni) (Indonesia), Li Jiun-Yang (Taiwan), John Pule (Niue / Aotearoa New Zealand), Kaylene Whiskey (Yankunytjatjara, Australia), Kirtika Kain (India / Australia), Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien (France), Ming Wong (Singapore / Germany), Nádia Taquary (Brazil), Nikau Hindin, Ebonie Fifita-Laufilitoga-Maka, Hina Puamohala Kneubuhl, Hinatea Colombani, Kesaia Biuvanua (Te Rarawa/Ngāpuhi, Aotearoa New Zealand; Fungamapitoa, Tonga, Aotearoa New Zealand; Kihalaupoe, Maui, Hawai‘i; ‘Arioi, Tahiti; Moce, Lau, Fiji), Orquideas Barrileteras (Guatemala), Özgür Kar (Turkey / Netherlands), Pacific Sisters (Aotearoa New Zealand), Pauletta Kerinauia (Miyartuwi (Pandanus), Tiwi Islands, Australia), Sachiko Kazama (Japan), Satch Hoyt (UK / Jamaica), Segar Passi (Meriam Mir/Dauareb, Torres Strait Islands, Australia), Serwah Attafuah (Ashanti Australia), Tracey Moffatt (Australia), Trevor Yeung (China / Hong Kong), Udeido Collective (West Papua), VNS Matrix (Australia), William Strutt (UK), William Yang (Australia), Yangamini (Tiwi; Gulumirrgin; Warlpiri; Kunwinjku; Yolŋu; Wardaman; Karajarri; Gurindji; Burarra, Australia) 

Image of Cosmin Costinas, Serwah Attafuah, William Yang, Kirtika Kain and Inti Guerrero.
From left: Cosmin Costinaș (Co-Artistic Director), Serwah Attafuah, William Yang, Kirtika Kain, and Inti Guerrero (Co-Artistic Director). Photography by Joshua Morris.

Phoenix Central Park

The Biennale of Sydney is joining forces with Phoenix Central Park for the next edition. Phoenix will be curating a program of contemporary music that will be presented alongside the exhibition, responding to the works on display and complementing Ten Thousand Suns.  Expanding beyond its multi-award-winning, architecturally celebrated home in Chippendale, Sydney, audiences can expect Phoenix’s widely-appreciated curatorial footprint to be translated to exciting new locations, with a line-up of bold and performative music experiences.

Beau Neilson, Executive Producer and Creative Director, Phoenix Central Park said: “We have long held the view that contemporary music is an art form worthy of elevated presentations in fine art spaces. It’s a great privilege to be creating a music program that will respond to the breadth of work curated by Cosmin Costinaș and Inti Guerrero. Together they have assembled a rich and dazzling array of visual art that captures the socio-political zeitgeist with a spirit of optimism, and we look forward to honouring this vision with an exciting line-up that will span the duration of the Biennale.”

Learn more about Phoenix Central Park and discover their artistic program.

Exterior photo of Phoenix Central Park.
Photography by Billy Zammit.
Interior photo of Phoenix Central Park. Arushi Jain is performing to a full house.
Photography by Jordan Munns.
Photography by Jordan Munns.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country, in particular the Gadigal people on whose land the Biennale of Sydney is located. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture and pay our respect to Elders, past, present, and emerging.

First Nations people are respectfully advised that this site includes works, names and images of deceased people. This includes cultural practices and artistic intellectual property of a sensitive nature.