The 15th Shanghai Biennale, titled "Does the flower hear the bee?", opened on 8 November 2025 at the Power Station of Art. Curated by Kitty Scott with co-curators Daisy Desrosiers and Xue Tan, the exhibition explores the intersection of human and nonhuman intelligence through art. The event features over 250 works by 67 artists and collectives from around the globe, including 16 from China.
The Biennale's theme centres on the concept of art as a space for exploring new forms of intelligence and communication. "Does the flower hear the bee?" aims to foster connections between different life forms, offering a hopeful vision for the future amidst global uncertainty. The exhibition design, led by allzone's Rachaporn Choochuey, transforms the Power Station of Art into an open landscape, encouraging visitors to wander and reflect.
The Biennale extends beyond the main venue, with City Projects taking place at iconic Shanghai locations such as the Jia Yuan Hai Art Museum and the Shanghai Botanical Garden. These projects aim to integrate art into everyday urban spaces, creating a dialogue between art and the city's natural and architectural environments.
Notable participants include Maxime Cavajani, Theaster Gates, and Liu Shuai, whose works are displayed at various city locations. The exhibition runs until 31 March 2026, offering a platform for artists to engage with themes of receptivity and interconnectedness.
The Biennale's accompanying publications, a 400-page catalogue and a reader, provide further insights into the artists' perspectives and the curators' essays, enriching the visitor experience. As the Biennale unfolds, it invites audiences to engage with art in a way that deepens their understanding of the world and its myriad intelligences.
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