On January 17, 2024, the inaugural ceremony of the first Guangzhou Design Triennial, themed "Warm-beings" had its opening at the Guangdong Museum of Art (GDMoA).
Pioneering the triennial exhibition model in China, the Guangdong Museum of Art launched the first Guangzhou Triennial Exhibition back in 2002. This year marks the inception of the "Guangzhou Design Triennial," a platform envisioned to foster art and design dialogue between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the global community.
Running until May 31, 2024, the triennial features a diverse program comprising a thematic exhibition, community initiatives, archival showcases, forums, and public engagements. Nearly 100 esteemed designers and artists from 27 countries and regions have been invited to share their ideas and designs that are culturally imbued, reflecting the warmth of their respective heritage.
At its core, the Triennial serves as a catalyst for local and international creatives to infuse care into their creative endeavours, urging contemplation on nurturing care amidst contemporary uncertainties. The Matters of Care exhibition, a pivotal component, delves into the socio-political and ethical dimensions of care, sparking introspective dialogues. Beyond the event, this reflective journey seeks to amplify diverse expressions of care, fostering cultural exchange and innovation in the realm of warm design.
“When everybody comes together with different resources and the willingness to make a change for the community, this is what we call community transformation," said Malaysian graphic designer Joseph Foo, 3nity's creative director as well as co-founder and president of KongsiKL, in his role as curator of the Triennial's community project. This initiative seeks to uncover the tangible ways in which "design" can serve as a vital instrument for tackling social issues, fostering resilient communities, and enhancing the management of resources. During the Triennial, this segment will collaborate with standout community projects to organise activities on location, thereby encouraging public engagement with the transformative influence of design within communities.
The Guangzhou Design Triennial unfolds from January 16 to May 31, 2024, at the Guangdong Museum of Art, located at 38 Yanyu Road, Er-Sha Island, Guangzhou, China.
