Hou Hanru

Hou Hanru

Independent Curator and Writer, Paris, France / Rome, Italy.

Biography:

Hou Hanru is a prolific writer and curator based in Paris and Rome. He was Artistic Director of MAXXI (National Museum for 21st Century Arts, Rome, 2013-22). He is an advisor for numerous cultural institutions including Power Station of Art, Shanghai; Times Museum, Guangzhou; Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai; The Solomon Guggenheim Museum, New York; Westbund Art Museum, Shanghai. He frequently contributes to various journals on contemporary art and culture while serving on juries for major international awards. He also lectures in numerous international institutions and teaches at universities including Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing; School of Visual Art, New York; among others.

He has curated and co-curated around 150 exhibitions worldwide over the last three decades, including: China/Avant-Garde, National Museum of Art of China, Beijing, 1989; Cities On The Move, 1997–2000; Shanghai Biennale, 2000; Gwangju Biennale, 2002; Venice Biennale – French Pavilion, 1999, Zone of Urgency, 2003; Chinese Pavillion, [KP1] 2007; 2nd Guangzhou Triennial, 2005; 10th Istanbul Biennial, 2007; 10th Biennale de Lyon, 2009; 5th Auckland Triennial, 2013; Growing in Difference, 7th Shenzhen Hong Kong Bi-City Biennial of Urbanism and Architecture, UABB 2017-18. His recent projects include: On Kawara, Rules of Freedom, Freedom of Rules, Taikwun, Hong Kong, 2025, Home and Beyond – chapter 1, Hou Hanru’s curatorial journey, Power Station of Art, Shanghai, 2025-26.