On the occasion of the Art Basel week, a panel discussion themed «Building Cultural Bridges», took place at Fondation Beyeler. The event marked the first public appearance of Kulapat Yantrasast, founder of WHY Architecture and one of the world’s leading specialists in museum and cultural architecture, in his new role as Artistic Director of the Biennial.
The discussion brought together Gayane Umerova, Commissioner of the Biennial and Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation; Kulapat Yantrasast and Chris Dercon, member of the Bukhara Biennial Advisory Board and Managing Director of the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain. The conversation was moderated by Dr Alia Al-Senussi, a member of the Biennial’s Advisory Council and an international arts and cultural strategist.
The panellists explored the concept and vision a biennial, its role in shaping and revitalising the urban environment, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in preserving cultural heritage, strengthening international cultural dialogue, and addressing pressing social and environmental challenges.