Panel Discussion: Why curators need biennials

Join José Da Silva, Amita Kirpalani, Mikala Tai and Kyle Weise as they respond to the 2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Yield Strength. Speakers will reflect on the changing role for the biennial curator and share aspirations for the future of biennial models.

José Da Silva is an Australian curator and the Director of UNSW Galleries, Sydney. In 2024, he curated the 18th Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Inner Sanctum, and is the current Chair of University Art Museums Australia.

Amita Kirpalani is a writer and curator. She is currently curator of contemporary art at the National Gallery of Victoria where she curated collection exhibitions and several solo exhibitions and projects by Australian and international artists with a keen interest in performance and film. She holds a continuing role in the NGV curatorium for major cyclic exhibitions including Melbourne Now 2023, Triennial 2024 and the forthcoming Triennial 2026. She has held curatorial positions at Gertrude Contemporary, ArtScience Museum Singapore, The Australian Centre for the Moving Image and Canberra Contemporary Art Spaces.

Mikala Tai is an independent writer, curator and cultural strategist based in Sydney. A specialist in contemporary Australian and Asian art, she has collaborated with local, national, and international organisations to strengthen cultural connections between Australia and Asia.

Kyle Weise is Curator at the University of Queensland Art Museum and co-commissioner of Charlie Sofo's presentation in 2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art. He has a longstanding involvement with artist-led organisations and was previously curator at Metro Arts and co-founded and co-directed Screen Space and Kuiper Projects.

Please note that Bruce Johnson-McLean is no longer able to present on this panel.