Exploring the convergence of media technologies and contemporary arts through innovative exhibitions examining the relationship between art, technology, and urban environments in South Korea's dynamic capital.
The Seoul Mediacity Biennale stands as a pioneering platform exploring the convergence of media technologies and contemporary arts in South Korea's dynamic capital. Founded in 2000 as part of Seoul's Millennium Project, the biennale has established itself as one of Asia's most significant showcases for media art and a crucial lens through which to examine the evolving relationship between technology, creativity, and urban environments.
Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), the biennale has positioned itself at the forefront of artistic experimentation and innovation. By focusing specifically on media art—spanning digital, video, interactive, and installation practices—the Seoul Mediacity Biennale addresses the rapid technological changes reshaping contemporary life and cultural expression in the 21st century.
The biennale's name itself reflects its dual focus: examining how digital technologies transform artistic practice while also considering the broader implications of media within the urban context of Seoul—a global technology hub that embodies the tensions and possibilities of our hyperconnected age. Through ambitious exhibitions, commissions, performances, and public programs, the biennale creates a space for critical dialogue about the intersections of art, technology, and social change.
The roots of the Seoul Mediacity Biennale can be traced back to a precursor exhibition titled "SEOUL in MEDIA," which was presented three times between 1996 and 1999. These early exhibitions laid the groundwork for a more ambitious international event that would position Seoul as a global hub for media arts and digital culture at the dawn of the new millennium.
The inaugural Seoul Mediacity Biennale (then known as Media City Seoul) was launched in 2000 as part of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Millennium Project, reflecting the city's commitment to establishing itself as a leading center for technological innovation and cultural production. From the beginning, the biennale aimed to integrate what were then seen as the revolutionary worlds of new media technologies with contemporary transdisciplinary art practices.
Over its two-decade history, the biennale has evolved in response to rapid technological changes and shifting cultural contexts. What began as a primarily technology-focused exhibition has expanded to encompass broader questions about media's role in shaping contemporary experience, identity, and social relations. This evolution mirrors Seoul's own transformation into one of the world's most technologically advanced cities while maintaining a rich cultural heritage.
"SEOUL in MEDIA" exhibitions establish foundation for future biennale
Inaugural Media City Seoul launched as part of Seoul's Millennium Project
The 6th edition expands scope to include more diverse media and conceptual approaches
10th anniversary edition shifts to collective curatorship involving experts from diverse fields
Introduction of international open call for artistic director position to bring new perspectives
12th edition "THIS TOO, IS A MAP" reimagines cartographic traditions through media art
Upcoming 13th edition to explore "exhibition-as-séance" concept with curatorial team of Anton Vidokle, Hallie Ayres, and Lukas Brasiskis
The Seoul Mediacity Biennale has consistently explored how emerging technologies reshape artistic practice, cultural identity, and social experience. Each edition develops a distinct curatorial framework that responds to contemporary concerns while building on the biennale's accumulated history of engagement with media art.
"THIS TOO, IS A MAP" (2023) - The 12th edition examined non-territorial mapping and alternative cartographies, moving beyond conventional Western mapping systems to explore diasporic experiences, hidden histories, and multi-spatial knowledge systems. Curated by Rachael Rakes, the exhibition brought together artists whose works conveyed transnational attitudes and cultural hybridity.
"One Escape at a Time" (2021) - Taking place after a yearlong postponement due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, this edition explored how art creates spaces of escape and alternative reality during times of crisis. The exhibition examined various forms of retreat, distraction, and fantasy as both coping mechanisms and sites of resistance.
"Exhibition-as-Séance" (Upcoming 2025) - The 13th edition will explore the connections between technology and mystical traditions, using the concept of séance as a framework to examine art practices that bridge material and immaterial worlds. The exhibition will address how spiritual and occult traditions offer alternatives to rationalist industrial society.
Throughout its various iterations, the Seoul Mediacity Biennale has consistently engaged with several recurring themes:
This thematic approach allows the Seoul Mediacity Biennale to maintain conceptual depth while remaining responsive to rapidly changing technological landscapes and cultural contexts. By alternating between broad philosophical questions and specific contemporary concerns, the biennale creates a dynamic platform for artistic innovation and critical discourse.
The Seoul Mediacity Biennale utilizes multiple venues throughout Seoul, creating a cultural circuit that activates different parts of the city and engages with diverse urban contexts. This distributed exhibition model invites visitors to experience both contemporary media art and Seoul's dynamic urban landscape, highlighting the dialogue between digital culture and physical space.
The biennale typically occupies a range of spaces, including:
The institutional heart of the biennale, this flagship venue in central Seoul hosts major installations and serves as the organizational hub for the event.
Adjacent to SeMA, this venue creates dialogues between contemporary media art and Seoul's historical narratives, often hosting works that engage with archives and memory.
An underground space originally built as a secret shelter during Korea's military regime in the 1970s, now repurposed as an exhibition venue with unique architectural and historical resonances.
An outdoor screen visible from Seoullo 7017, an elevated pedestrian walkway converted from a former highway, bringing media art into public urban space.
Beyond these primary venues, the biennale extends its reach through partnerships with various cultural institutions, independent spaces, and even underground shopping centers throughout Seoul. These collaborating spaces host satellite exhibitions, performances, workshops, and other programs that complement the main exhibitions while engaging with different communities and contexts.
The distribution of the biennale across multiple sites reflects its engagement with Seoul as both subject and context. By activating diverse spaces throughout the city, the event encourages visitors to experience how media art can transform urban environments and create new connections between digital culture and physical space. This approach also makes the biennale more accessible to local residents who might encounter its interventions in their everyday environments.
Throughout its history, the Seoul Mediacity Biennale has presented numerous groundbreaking exhibitions that have expanded the boundaries of media art and explored the complex relationships between technology, society, and culture. These presentations showcase the biennale's commitment to artistic innovation and critical engagement with contemporary issues.
Agustina Woodgate's installation employed machine learning to regenerate outdated maps that had been sanded down into blurry, pastel-hued land masses, questioning cartographic authority.
A conversation between artist Chan Sook Choi and biologist Matthew Chew exploring biogeography and belonging, challenging conventional notions of native versus non-native species.
Part-time Suite's immersive 360-degree VR video installation exploring future technologies and their social implications through speculative narratives.
A collaborative project between artist Kent Chan and Seoul Community Radio exploring "future tropics" through sound, remixing global audio cultures and creating new sonic territories.
These projects exemplify the Seoul Mediacity Biennale's approach to media art presentation: technologically innovative, conceptually rigorous, and deeply engaged with both global artistic developments and local contexts. By balancing spectacular visual experiences with substantial intellectual content, the biennale creates exhibitions that appeal to diverse audiences while advancing critical discourse in the field.
The Seoul Mediacity Biennale has experimented with different curatorial models throughout its history, reflecting its commitment to innovation not only in artistic content but also in institutional form. This evolution demonstrates the biennale's responsiveness to changing conditions in both the art world and broader society.
The biennale's curatorial structure has taken various forms:
The biennale has worked with significant curatorial figures, including:
Artistic Director of the 12th edition (2023), bringing her background in film programming and critical geography to explore non-territorial mapping through media art.
Co-director of the upcoming 13th edition (2025), artist, filmmaker, and founder of e-flux with previous exhibition experience in South Korea.
Artistic Director of the 11th edition (2021), bringing international experience from Centre Pompidou and M+ to create the "One Escape at a Time" exhibition.
Artistic Director of the 9th edition (2016), known for her inclusive approach and focus on disability access through innovative technological interfaces.
Several core principles have guided the Seoul Mediacity Biennale's curatorial approach:
Through its distinctive curatorial approaches, the Seoul Mediacity Biennale has established itself as a platform for innovative exhibition-making that responds to the specific challenges and possibilities of media art. By continuously reimagining what a media art biennale can be, the event maintains its relevance in a rapidly changing technological and cultural landscape.
Explore the dynamic atmosphere and innovative spirit of the Seoul Mediacity Biennale through this video showcase of exhibitions, installations, and visitor experiences at various venues across the city.
Explore critical perspectives and insights on the Seoul Mediacity Biennale through these selected articles from leading art publications and critics.
An examination of how the Seoul Mediacity Biennale has evolved from technological showcasing to critical engagement with digital society's complex implications.
Critical review of the 12th edition's exploration of alternative mapping systems and non-territorial thinking through diverse media approaches.
Historical analysis tracking the biennale's evolution alongside Seoul's transformation into a global technology hub while maintaining cultural specificity.
The Seoul Mediacity Biennale takes place across multiple venues throughout Seoul, with the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) serving as the primary exhibition site and organizational hub.