The 13th Seoul Mediacity Biennale, titled “Séance: Technology of the Spirit,” will open in August 2025 at the Seoul Museum of Art. The exhibition is curated by Anton Vidokle, Hallie Ayres, and Lukas Brasiskis of e-flux, who previously organized the Shanghai Biennale in 2023. The curators aim to structure a film program as an extension of the exhibition, engaging with themes of Cosmism and spiritual séance. They have collaborated with the Hong Kong-based architecture firm COLLECTIVE to transform the museum’s white-wall space into a scenography evoking different metaphysical realms, using color and light to enhance the experience.
This edition matters because it continues the curatorial team’s exploration of moving image and spiritual themes, following their acclaimed work in Shanghai. By framing the exhibition as a séance, the biennale challenges conventional museum presentations and connects contemporary media art with Korean shamanistic traditions and belief systems. The event also highlights the evolving role of biennials in fostering cross-cultural dialogue between East Asian art scenes, particularly between China and South Korea.