Author(s)

Xiyu Chen, Shiyuan Zhang, Daxu Chen, Xiaohong Deng

Corresponding Author

Xiyu Chen

Abstract

Most researchers usually pay much attention to the ‘northern’ Biennale centered on the west, such as the Venice Biennale. But the ‘marginal’ biennale culture that is called the Global South has relatively less research and attention. Taking the 7th exhibition theme ‘Cities, Growing in Difference’ held by Shenzhen/Hong Kong Urbanism\Architecture Bi-city Biennale (UABB) in Nantou old town, Shenzhen as an example, this essay reviews the historical development of UABB, Nantou old town ‘urban villages’ characteristics, and analyses the curators’ views and vision for the exhibition. From the perspective of the global south, this essay analyses the advantages, some curatorial limitations, and potential problems after the closing of the exhibition.

Keywords

biennale, the Global South, UABB, Nantou’s urban villages, curatorial limitations