HKSZ Biennale - withdrawal/return

In the last couple of days, my decision to withdraw from the Biennale Gallery of the Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism/ Architecture has raised concerns of friends in the arts community on the issue of artists' rights in front of authorities or institutions. I had some correspondence with the exhibition curators and artists, and today I decided to take part in it again upon request by the curators for the following reasons:

1. My action to withdraw from the Biennale was totally a protest against the Biennale organizer which I thought took advantage from the individual artists and participants. I did not mean to create any damage and trouble to any individuals involved in it. But since I announced my withdrawal, I have sensed an uneasy situation faced by some Biennale curatorial team members personally, which was not what I intended.

2. All participating artists in the Biennale Gallery are now offered certain support and financial aid by the organizer.

3. Another Hong Kong artist who also withdrew from the exhibition for lacking support from the organizer at earlier stage has been invited to take part again with funding to install his exhibits.

While I truly appreciate the individual efforts in the last few days trying to improve the situation and to make things happen, I restate my protest against the Biennale institution for it created a hierarchy of exhibitors separating the "main exhibitors" from the "parallel exhibitors" (including the Biennale Gallery artists) whom are still left out in the official catalogue.

Although there is growing public expenditure and private sponsorship in the arts (mainly in high profile-events and development), disregard to professional artistic practice and artists' rights is still ubiquitous in our society which is unexceptionally and unfortunately reflected in this Biennale. I hope not to confuse anyone with my actions as negotiation with one particular party for more advantage. Instead, I only tried to voice out my observation and thought to hopefully attract more attention to this unfair mind set.

Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism/ Architecture

Dear Organizer of HKSZ Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism/ Architecture,

I have visited the Shenzhen section of the Biennale during the
holiday, which was very interesting, consisting of works by
architects, planners, artists, sociologists and writers. All their
contributions are regarded as official participation in the biennale
and included in the catalogue. I have also heard that our Hong Kong
organizer provided a substantial fund in millions HK$ to the Shenzhen
exhibition.

As an artist invited to take part in this Biennale Festival which is
NOT the official Biennale Exhibition as stated, I was already
reminded there will be zero budget and not even installation support
whereas the OFFICIAL biennale participants received a production
budget and are included in the catalogue (not the leaflet which is
ONLY for the Festival artists).

As Hong Kong artists, we all know how difficult to make things happen
here and have all sorts of experience to work in zero budget
exhibition but we also know we're doing meaningful work but no cheap
extras. Artists need to make many efforts to finish a work which is
not meant to just fill up the ample exhibition space in the former
Police Station compound and deserve a little respect.

This HKSZ biennale is generously supported by the Hong Kong
government and the Jockey Club. All visitors to this biennale would
think all participants including artists of this Biennale Festival
got the same support. After all, what's the difference between
Biennale Exhibition, Biennale Festival and/or Biennale Gallery? So it
has to be clarified, not only the names but also the way how it's
organized and curated. I think it is important to let everybody know
whereas huge amount of money is spent on big cultural events and
institutions, there is no corresponding support to small
organizations and artists.

Although I would love to exhibit my work in such a big exhibition, I
have to withdraw as an extra Biennale Festival participant because of
my protest to the organizer's indifference to the artist and its
unfair and unprofessional organization and expenditure.

Leung Chi Wo
http://www.leungchiwo.net