Korean Pavilion Explores Nation-Building at 61st Venice Biennale

The Korean Pavilion is presenting an exhibition titled “Liberated Space” at the 61st ^[1] Venice Biennale in Italy this year ^[2].

The installation serves as a critical interrogation of nation-building and collective memory. By focusing on the concept of liberation, the exhibition seeks to explore how these themes evolve following recent political turmoil.

Artistic Director Binna (Goen) Choi curated the project, which is situated in the Giardini area of Venice. The exhibition features contributions from a variety of creators, including artist Hyeree Ro and writer Han Kang. These contributors use site-specific installations to challenge the meaning of liberation within a national context.

One of the central elements of the display includes the use of red pipes and other architectural installations. These works are designed to evoke the complexities of a shared past and the process of constructing a national identity. The curation emphasizes the tension between individual memory and the official narratives of a state.

The project was formally introduced during a press conference held on March 19, 2026 ^[3]. The event outlined the pavilion's goal to move beyond traditional representations of art and instead create a space for intellectual and emotional inquiry into the nature of freedom.

As part of the larger 61st ^[1] Biennale, the Korean Pavilion stands as a reflection of the country's ongoing dialogue with its own history. The integration of literary and visual arts allows the exhibition to address the psychological dimensions of liberation, a theme that resonates with both the local history of Korea and the global context of the Biennale.