The Daegu Photo Biennale in South Korea, now in its 10th edition, tackles the Anthropocene through the lens of symbiosis, featuring three main exhibitions: 'The Pulse of Life', 'The Origin of the World', and a solo show by Rinko Kawauchi titled 'M/E On this Sphere Endlessly Interlinking'. Artistic director Emmanuelle de l’Ecotais, a former curator at Centre Pompidou and Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, leads the biennale, which includes 80 artists in the main exhibition and 75 in the special exhibition, alongside emerging artist showcases, a symposium, a photobook exhibition, and a portfolio review, all spread across 4,000 square meters at the Daegu Culture and Arts Center.
The biennale matters because it reframes the ecological crisis not by centering human guilt but by proposing a 'Symbiocene'—a concept from philosopher Glenn Albrecht—that emphasizes interconnectedness and equality among all life forms, including bacteria and micro-organisms. By adopting this global, decentered perspective, the event positions itself as a significant platform for rethinking humanity's role in the natural world, while also aiming to elevate Daegu's standing on the international photography scene.