The Biennale of Sydney has appointed Low Kee Hong artistic director of its 26th edition, which will be on view in and around the city in 2028. This year’s Biennale, directed by Hoor Al Qasimi and titled “Rememory,” closed last month.
“The 2028 Biennale will embrace participation and discovery, inviting people from all walks of life to share in the experience. I look forward to spending time with artists, communities and cultural leaders across Australia and the wider region,” Hong said in a statement.
Various venues around New South Wales typically host the three-month-long Sydney Biennial. The 25th edition was headquartered at the White Bay Power Station; other locations included the Campbelltown Arts Center, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, and Lewers: Penrith Regional Gallery.
Hong is the founding creative director of Factory International, an arts organization that opened in Manchester, UK, in 2023. Low curated Ai Weiwei’s current site-specific exhibition at Factory International, “Ai Weiwei: Button Up!,” Factory International also organizes the Manchester International Festival, a biennial visual and performing arts event that next takes place in 2027.
Hong, a native of Singapore, was previously the head of theater and performing arts at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in Hong Kong. He was also the artistic director and general manager of the Singapore Arts Festival, and founding director of the Singapore Biennale. According to ABC, Hong is the first Southeast Asian to oversee the Biennale of Sydney.
Hoor Al Qasimi’s 2025 Biennale faced criticism by Jewish groups in Australia for its perceived preference for participants with anti-Zionist politics. The lead-up to the show was so heated that Hoor herself declined to attend the preview.
“I believe contemporary art has the power to create encounters that stay with us, to inspire wonder, foster connection and open new possibilities for how we see ourselves and one another,” Hong said. “My hope is to create an edition that feels generous, proposing new ways of assembly and rebuilding communities and celebrating our capacity for joy in these challenging times.”
