Guangzhou Airport Biennale: Competition and confrontation in villagers-led participation

This article examines a brand new member of the biennale system in China, the Guangzhou Airport Biennale, in Fenghe Village, Renhe Town, Guangdong Province, and focuses on its first edition in 2019 entitled Extreme Mix, by analysing the topic of social engagement and public participation. In other words, the discussion below is two-way – not only art engaging in society but also public participating in art – and is principally about the latter. The interventions in question were initiated and activated preponderantly by the local residents in the biennale and artworks. Most notably, their line of practices was replete with competitiveness and confrontationality. It will be argued that although intention-wise the biennale was not dedicated to be socially relational and participatory, it ended up being strongly so, owing to the agency and creativity of the villagers. Using Clarie Bishop’s theory of antagonism, the conclusion of the article is that the competition, confrontation and debates are conducive for the fostering of democracy.