World Artists Gather in Jirisan, Hadong... Environment Biennale Opens in October

Under the theme "The Creating, Staying, Returning" until November 1

84 artists from Korea and abroad participate; Italian national pavilion to be featured

Programs include land art, AI art, film, and seminars

The "2026 Jirisan International Environment Biennale" will be held in the Jirisan area of Hadong County, Gyeongsangnam-do from October 1 to November 1, 2026.

This year’s biennale takes place under the theme "The Creating, Staying, Returning" and will be held at locations such as Jirisan Art Farm, Jirisan Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as a metaverse exhibition hall.

A total of 84 artists from Korea and overseas will participate in the event, showcasing works of contemporary visual art and land art, among others.

[Photo provided by Hadong County] The official poster for the "2026 Jirisan International Environment Biennale," which will be held in the Jirisan area of Hadong County from October 1 to November 1.

Hong Gai, Chairperson of the Art Committee, explained that this year’s theme is significant in seeking to portray Jirisan not only as a scenic landscape, but as a space where life, culture, and technology interact, expressing this concept artistically.

An Italian national pavilion will also be operated at this biennale.

According to the Organizing Committee of the Jirisan International Environment Biennale, the Italian pavilion—supported by the Italian Cultural Institute in Korea—will be set up in a space of 330 square meters.

Under the direction of Maria Mancini, Professor at Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and the artistic director, more than 20 Italian artists will participate, presenting the exhibition "Diario italiano. Rivelazioni e Ombre" (Italian Diary: Revelations and Shadows).

The organizing committee stated that, based on last year’s collaboration with Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, they have prepared the Italian pavilion for this year’s event.

An international exchange program is also being promoted.

The organizing committee has signed a research and development agreement with Norway’s Hadeland Folkehøgskole, linking land art with solar power generation under the "Land Art Renewable Energy" initiative.

As a result, Norwegian faculty and students are scheduled to visit Hadong next spring to conduct workshops with local residents.

During the biennale, the "2026 Byeolcheonji Hadong Land Festival" which features participation from Hadong residents, will also take place.

There will also be programs focusing on art and film utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). Works and programs exploring the relationship between AI and art will be introduced, and director Sim Eun-rok’s AI film "The Happy Prince" will be screened.

The International Environment Biennale, connecting art, ecology, and technology against the backdrop of Jirisan's natural environment, will be held. Attention is focused on whether the participation of both domestic and international artists, and the operation of the Italian pavilion, will further promote international exchange in local culture and arts and lead to sustained content development.

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