read more about the 6 themes here

this year also witnesses the 30th anniversary of shenzhen special economic zone.
to summarize the experience and lessons learned by this young city and sort all kinds
of urban problems it faces by looking back its historical development is one part of
urban problems to be dealt with and studied through the biennale.
in this sense, the 2009 biennale this year bears special significance and purpose to shenzhen.
the theme of this biennale is city mobilization, which deepens the themes of the two previous
biennales. in succession to the theme 'city: open door' put forward by yung ho chang and the
theme 'city of expiration and regeneration' put forward by qingyun ma, this year's curator ou ning,
has brought forward the theme 'city mobilization'. from the standpoint of urban sociology,
this theme tries to penetrate into the internal structure of the city, the mechanisms of
urban behavior, and the motivation factor of urban energy.


ou ning, chief curator of 09 SZHKB

'the biennale phenomenon is originated in venice a hundred years
ago. an evolution of the world expositions popular in the 19th century, it is
a form closely associated with the rise of the nation-states and their need
to claim sovereignty. the venice biennale — a living fossil of the history
of the biennale system — maintained the tradition of organizing content
according to nationality, a feature which has resulted in the establishment
of “national pavilions”. in the past hundred years, radical changes within
human history and society have helped to propagate biennales; and as it
stands now, there are more than three hundred of them taking place all
over the world. it is worth noting, however, that with the end of the coldwar
era and the integration of the global economy, the concept of 'nationstate'
has itself been taking a less significant role.'
city mobilization: towards another kind of biennale
text by ou ning, chief curator of 09 SZHKB

a biennale should not simply be an exhibition for the high and mighty, nor should it be only
an incubator of new economic achievements. as a young biennale with only two previous
installments (in 2005 and 2007, respectively), SZHKB has invented an innovative, dual-city
mode of operation which may be summarized as two cities, one biennale. to focus not only
on architecture but also urbanism means to have a very open vision and the inhabitants and
users of the city, the residents themselves, are able to have their voices heard. the SZHKB
engages them, either as participant or audience.


the shenzhen civic square was chosen as the main exhibition site for the biennale


'with the wind', 2009

balloons and other local materials support a sunshade net that resembles the rooftop of the
shenzhen civic center. this lightly humorous pavilion celebrates and glorifies, while its fluid
ability to move with the wind provides a gathering space defined by natural elements.


'with the wind' by liu jiakun installed in the north-east square of the civic center

shenzhen hong kong biennale 09 / 深港双城双年展快报
shenzhen http://www.szhkbiennale.org
hong kong http://hkszbiennale.org