Liverpool Biennial places children’s perspectives at its 2027 centre
Liverpool Biennial has announced The Age of Magical Thinking as its 2027 exhibition, with 25 artists and collectives participating from June 5 to September 19. Curators Aimee Harrison and Lucía Sanromán draw on children’s perspectives. Harold Offeh is developing a public project with local young people for Williamson Square, while new commissions by Francis Alÿs, Tania Candiani and Laakkuluk Williamson will join work across the city.
Arts··Midday
The 2027 biennial announces its theme
Liverpool Biennial, the contemporary art exhibition in the city in northwest England, has announced its 2027 artist list and the title The Age of Magical Thinking. Children’s perspectives are central to the announced programme.[1], [2]
The exhibition will run from June 5 to September 19, with 25 artists and collectives taking part. Aimee Harrison and Lucía Sanromán are its curators. The title draws on psychologist Jean Piaget’s account of childhood development: a period when the boundary between reality and make-believe is blurred. The curators draw on the experiences of children and young people in shaping the exhibition.[1]
Young people join a public artwork
Artist Harold Offeh is developing a public art project for Williamson Square, a square in Liverpool, together with local young people. Newly commissioned works will also come from Francis Alÿs, Tania Candiani and Laakkuluk Williamson. Their contributions form part of the exhibition’s programme across the city.[1]
Sanromán has linked socially engaged art with children’s experiences in describing the programme. Harrison has spoken of learning alongside children about a world that combines difficulty with possibility. Their comments set out curatorial intentions for the exhibition scheduled for next year.[1]
Galleries and a cathedral will host the exhibition
Venues include the Bluecoat arts centre, FACT Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, Open Eye Gallery, Victoria Gallery & Museum and Liverpool Cathedral. Liverpool John Moores University’s Exhibition Research Laboratory will also host work. The programme therefore extends across several named exhibition spaces in Liverpool.[1]
Announced participants include Ad Minoliti, Amalia Pica, Anya Paintsil, Charmaine Poh, Dor Guez, EBB.Global, Elias Nafaa, Hiroko Kubo and Immy Mali. Iván Argote, Wen Cheng Lee, Marilyn Boror Bor, Petrit Halilaj, Rineke Dijkstra, Robert Gabris, Ruth Ewan and Zohra Opoku are also listed. Ukrainian artists Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Khimei participate together. Ronak and Roza Moshtaghi are likewise listed as a joint participant.[1]
