The Gwangju Biennale Foundation has agreed to the use of the name “Taiwan Pavilion” for the exhibition organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) at the 16th Gwangju Biennale, resolving a dispute that had drawn international attention. The foundation confirmed the decision on August 25. The following day, the National Asian Culture Center (ACC) approved the pavilion’s use of exhibition space and delivery of equipment, both of which it had previously withheld.

The decision followed weeks of objections from Taiwanese participants, Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, and members of the wider biennale roster. The foundation had renamed the exhibition “NTMoFA Pavilion” in June, using the institution’s acronym rather than “Taiwan Pavilion,” the name under which the Taiwanese team said the project had been proposed and signed for since April. Since August 18, ACC had denied the Taiwan team access to its designated venue, delaying installation by roughly a week.

On August 25, in an open letter titled “You Must Change Your Name,” 47 artists and curators participating in this year’s edition—from the main exhibition and 12 pavilion projects, including those representing Brazil, France, Indonesia, Italy, Malta, and Poland—called on the foundation to adopt the name “Taiwan Pavilion.” 

The 16th Gwangju Biennale, curated by Singaporean artist-filmmaker Ho Tzu Nyen, is scheduled to open on September 5.

Louis Lu is an associate editor at ArtAsiaPacific.