Hyundai Motor to Continue Sponsorship of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale Through 2034

Sponsoring the Korean Pavilion Since 2015... Supporting the Expansion of Korean Art's International Network
This Year, "Liberation Space: Fortress and Nest" Exhibition... Showcasing Experimentation and Expansion in Korean Contemporary Art
"Supporting the Korean Pavilion as a Platform for Diverse, Practical Discourses"

Hyundai Motor Company has decided to continue its sponsorship of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, the world's largest international art exhibition, which it has supported since 2015.

'Liberation Space: Fortresses and Nests' Korean Pavilion exterior. Photo by Donghwan Gam

Hyundai Motor Company announced on May 6 that it will continue its sponsorship of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale through 2034.

The 61st Venice Biennale, held at Giardini Park in Venice from May 9 to November 22, 2026 local time, is a biennial international art event often referred to as the Olympics of the art world, showcasing leading artists and works from around the globe.

Building on a decade of support, Hyundai Motor Company has signed an agreement with the Arts Council Korea this year to continue official sponsorship through 2034, aiming to provide a stable foundation for introducing the trends and experimental works of Korean contemporary art to the international community.

This year, the Korean Pavilion exhibition is titled "Liberation Space: Fortress and Nest," curated by Artistic Director Choi Bitna, with artists Ko Eun Choi and Hye-ri Noh participating.

The main theme, "Liberation Space," is borrowed from the historical concept describing the period (1945–1948) after Korean independence, when a new order was sought on the peninsula. Rather than a simple reflection on the past, it repositions the Korean Pavilion as a "space" for communication within contemporary geopolitical and social contexts.

The exhibition is designed as a venue for humanity living in divided times to contemplate connection and recovery through sensory transformations of the body, space, and matter.

In particular, the two artists, known for their contrasting sensibilities, will each contribute in their own unique ways, infusing new meaning into the Korean Pavilion.

Artist Ko Eun Choi will present a site-specific work titled "Meridian," which uses copper pipes—the fundamental elements of architecture—to express lines and flows penetrating the interior and exterior of the Pavilion through sculptural language.

With the precision and rigor of acupuncture, the pipes traverse the architectural space of the Pavilion, embodying the concept of a "fortress." At the same time, by reactivating the long-sealed second floor and connecting the inside and outside, the artist transforms the Korean Pavilion from a fixed symbol into a dynamic, living, and inclusive space.

Noh Hyeri, 'Bering', "Remembering Station," 2026. Liberation Space: Fortress and Nest Installation View. Photo by Kang Dong-hwan

Artist Hye-ri Noh, through her work "Bearing," layers approximately 4,000 pieces of wax-coated organza to envelop the interior of the Pavilion, creating a "nest" for the self-sufficiency and symbiosis of life, as well as a "fortress" of solid protection.

Having previously explored family relations under sociopolitical and economic conditions, the artist expands her focus in this exhibition to life, care, and community, presenting a "gallery within a gallery."

Additionally, in a space called "Station"—a part of the artwork—fellows from various fields participate, and so-called "bearers" perform, leading visitors to confront essential aspects of life such as mourning, remembrance, prospect, waiting, and daily living.

Meanwhile, for the first time since its opening in 1995, this year’s Venice Biennale will feature collaborative events and exhibitions between the Korean and Japanese Pavilions.

The two pavilions will present performances at the opening ceremony, installations inside and outside the exhibition spaces, and processional performances moving between the two national pavilions.

A Hyundai Motor Company representative said, "It is meaningful to continue supporting the Korean Pavilion so that diverse and experimental art can be presented on the world stage within a stable framework, as we have for the past 10 years. We will continue to support the Pavilion as a platform for creating a wide range of practical and contemporary discourses."

In addition to sponsoring the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Hyundai Motor Company is also expanding opportunities for more people to experience art and consider the challenges facing modern society through partnerships with world-renowned museums such as Tate Modern, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.