By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The 8th Gwangju Biennale has appointed its art director Massimiliano Gioni, director of New York's New Museum's special exhibitions.
Gioni, 37, worked as the co-director of the 2006 Berlin Biennale and director for Manifesta, the European Biennial of Contemporary Art, in 2004. In 2003, he was the curator of the 2003 Venice Biennale's special exhibitions. He is also currently the director of Italian fashion company Nicola Trussardi.
As the former New York managing editor of ``Flash Art International,'' a prominent art magazine, Gioni also published a modern art magazine called ``Charley,'' which introduced art as cultural participation rather than visual art.
He also opened Wrong Gallery with fellow artists Maurizio Cattelan and Ali Subotnick.
The Gwangju Biennale is Asia's first contemporary art biennale. More than 500 artists and performers from 60 countries, curators and critics will join the art festival, which will take place next year.