Low Kee Hong to Steer 2028 Biennale of Sydney

New Leadership for a Pivotal Edition

The Biennale of Sydney has announced Low Kee Hong as the artistic director of its 26th edition, scheduled for 2028. Low arrives from Manchester, where he serves as creative director of Factory International and is currently overseeing Ai Weiwei: Button Up!, an exhibition and performance project running until 6 September.

His appointment follows a turbulent 25th edition, which closed on 14 June. That iteration, led by Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, faced criticism after she missed the media preview, stating she wished for artists to speak independently. A police probe into remarks made by DJ Haram on opening night was later dropped due to insufficient evidence.

A Vision Rooted in Dialogue

Low, who is acquainted with Al Qasimi, described his curatorial philosophy in conversation with The Art Newspaper. He stressed the importance of engaging with Indigenous Australian communities, drawing parallels between their long-standing connection to land and time, and his own approach to festival-making.

"The way Indigenous communities have shaped my thinking is around time spans far beyond a three-month event—extending into hundreds of thousands of years," he said.

He also acknowledged the ongoing Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in Sydney, noting that divisive rhetoric is a global concern. "Through art, we can create space for deep listening and nuanced conversations," he added, contrasting this with the rapid consumption of ideas on social media.

Scaling Ambition

Critics of the previous biennale questioned whether the White Bay Power Station venue overwhelmed smaller works. Low, however, expressed confidence in adapting to large-scale industrial spaces, citing Manchester's heritage of repurposed mills and factories as formative to his practice.

Before joining Factory International in 2022, Low held leadership roles at the Singapore Biennale, the Singapore Arts Festival, TheatreWorks, and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in Hong Kong.

Barbara Moore, CEO of the Biennale of Sydney, praised Low's vision as one that offers "warmth and kindness, embracing a shared sense of humanity through difference and change."

Collaborative Foundations

Low's collaboration with Ai Weiwei in Manchester included the artist's first 24-hour durational performance, Sewing a Button, which reimagined Ai's 81-day detention in 2011. Ai previously contributed an inflatable sculpture to the 21st Biennale of Sydney, underscoring a history of transnational artistic dialogue.

As the 2028 edition takes shape, Low's emphasis on inclusivity, reflection, and cross-cultural storytelling suggests a biennale poised to navigate both artistic ambition and social responsibility.