Get ready for a groundbreaking shift in the art world! The Yokohama Triennale just announced its most ambitious move yet, appointing Cosmin Costinaș and Inti Guerrero as Artistic Directors for its 9th edition, set to dazzle from April 23 to September 12, 2027. But here’s where it gets controversial: in an era of global division, can art truly bridge the gaps? That’s the question these visionary curators aim to tackle.
Based in Hong Kong, Costinaș and Guerrero are no strangers to making waves. Fresh off co-curating the 24th Biennale of Sydney in 2024—one of its most visited editions in 50 years—they’re bringing their bold, internationally acclaimed perspective to Yokohama. Their appointment underscores the Triennale’s commitment to diverse, globally engaged artistic voices. And this is the part most people miss: this isn’t just another art exhibition; it’s a reimagining of what recurring art events can achieve in a rapidly changing world.
Inaugurated in 2001, the Yokohama Triennale is Japan’s longest-running international contemporary art exhibition, hosted by the historic port city of Yokohama. This city, a gateway for cultural exchange, has long fostered global dialogue through art. But with the world in flux, the Triennale is asking: How can we stay relevant? Kuraya Mika, Executive Director of the Organizing Committee, puts it bluntly: “How can we use these events to support communities struggling to build better lives and address today’s challenges?”
Costinaș and Guerrero are the third duo of renowned international curators to lead the Triennale, following Raqs Media Collective (2020) and Liu Ding with Carol Yinghua Lu (2024). Their mission? To root the exhibition in local contexts while fostering sustainable, global dialogues. But here’s the kicker: they’re not just scaling up—they’re scaling sustainably, ensuring the Triennale reflects the realities of today’s world.
Selected through a rigorous process chaired by Kamiya Yukie of the National Art Center, Tokyo, the duo’s vision is clear: to reconnect a divided world through art. Kamiya hopes their work will “enable a sustainable form of interconnection”—a bold claim in today’s fractured landscape. Will they succeed? Only time will tell.
As they prepare, Costinaș and Guerrero will collaborate with the Yokohama Museum of Art, nonprofit art spaces, and more. Their resumes are impressive: Costinaș, born in Romania, has curated everything from the Kathmandu Triennale to the Dhaka Art Summit, while Guerrero, from Colombia, has led projects from Tate London to the EVA International Biennial. Together, they’ve co-curated exhibitions across Asia, celebrating collective resistance and joy.
But here’s the real question: Can their approach—joyful, resistant, and globally conscious—redefine what art exhibitions mean in 2027? And more importantly, will it resonate with you? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears!
For more details, visit https://www.yokohamatriennale.jp/english/ or check out the press release here.
