Installation view of “Liberated Space: Fortress and Nest,” the Korean Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition, running from May 9 to November 22. /Doosan
The Doosan Yonkang Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Doosan (000150.KS), is sponsoring the Korean Pavilion at Italy’s Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition for the first time.
The foundation said Thursday it is participating as a sponsor of the Korean Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition, held at the Giardini park in Venice, Italy, from the 9th of this month through November 22.
Launched in 1895, the Venice Biennale is the world’s largest art festival and is held biennially. This year’s event features 99 national pavilions curated by individual countries, along with a main exhibition showcasing 111 artists selected by artistic director Koyo Kouoh.
Under the theme “Liberation Space,” the Korean Pavilion sheds light on political events and historical transitions in Korean society from 1945 to the present.
Also drawing attention is the deep connection between the exhibition’s key figures and the foundation’s artist support programs. Participating artist Noh Hye-ri is an alumna of the foundation’s emerging artist support program, Doosan Art LAB, while artistic director Choi Binna serves as a supervisor of the Doosan Curator Workshop.
Choi served as a curator of the 2016 Gwangju Biennale and as co-artistic director of the 2022 Singapore Biennale and the 2025 Hawaii Triennial. Noh held her solo exhibition “August is the Cruelest” at Doosan Gallery in Jongno-gu, Seoul, last year. For the Venice exhibition, she will present “Bearing,” which expands her exploration of fragile material properties and imperfect structures.
Other participating fellows include artist Choi Goen, author Han Kang, farmer and activist Kim Hoo-ju, writer and singer Lee Lang, photographer Hwang Ye-ji, and artist Christian Nyampeta.
“It is deeply meaningful to meet at the Venice Biennale with the artists we have contemplated and grown alongside,” a Doosan Yonkang Foundation official said. “We will continue to support artists who build their own original artistic worlds and pioneer new frontiers in art.”