Wanwu Council

The Wanwu Council, assembled by Lahore Biennale 03 artist Zheng Bo during the opening weekend, aimed to create a manifesto posing the central question: How can art institutions move towards a more-than-human future? 

The term Wanwu, meaning “ten thousand things” in Chinese, evokes the idea of “myriad happenings.” Zheng envisioned the council sessions in Lahore as a close-knit meeting of artists, activists, scientists, and gardeners to collaboratively draft a text that would influence LBF and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, but also serve as an inspiration for other cultural institutions in the region and beyond.

A total of 10 individuals joined as council members for the “Wanwu Council” over three consecutive days at Jam-e-Shirin Park, Jinnah Bagh and Alhamra Arts Centre. They were engaged in exercises, walks and conversations to embody and articulate the diverse voices of non-human components worldwide. Microbes, trees, weeds, bees, foxes, histories, communities, light, water, soil, seasons, and spirits—entities intrinsically linked to the participants individually, the sites of Lahore Biennale 03 and the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, were discussed extensively. This gathering elevated and honoured forms of existence that have historically been overlooked or underrepresented in cultural discourse.

On the last day, the participants worked in groups to develop plans on how they can integrate non-human components in their organizations. They presented these manifestos in a public session at the Lahore Biennale. 40 participants from different walks of life engaged in this discourse and gave their feedback on how these manifestos can be realized to support all living and non-living in the future.