Ed and Nancy Kienholz’s seminal tableau “The Ozymandias Parade” takes center stage at this year’s Gwangju Biennale in Korea – marking the 13th installation of this powerfully provocative work. Having first debuted at the Henry Art Gallery, Seattle in 1985, the tableau continues to resonate with the same vigor and relevance today as it did back then. Its illustrious exhibition history includes the Portland Center for the Visual Arts (1986), Whitney Museum of American Art (1996), Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (2005) and the Schirn Kunsthalle (2011), just to name a few.

Now almost 30 years since its creation, not only have the components of the sculpture remained the same, but it has stayed true to its original conceit. In each city where the tableau is installed, the public is asked the question: “Are you satisfied with your goverment?” The result is then masked across the parade leader’s eyes, who blindly leads his followers while inverted beneath a rearing horse. In this instance, the answer was a resounding “No.”

Throughout the work’s rich history, this is actually the first time “The Ozymandias Parade” has been installed in Asia, and will be on view in Gwangju, Korea through November 9, 2014. 

Click here to read recent press on the Gwangju Biennale in the Economist. If you’re interested in learning more about the work of Ed and Nancy Kienholz, visit our website.