AURORA’s sixth biennial exhibition took place on November 16, 2024 at Dallas City Hall and surrounding areas. Titled FuturePresentPast, it was curated by New York City-based artist and curator Kendal Henry and Austin- and Mexico City-based curator and writer Leslie Moody Castro. Together they worked with regional and international artists to realize an expansive exhibition of technology-based public art.
With FuturePresentPast as the biennial theme, Henry and Moody Castro looked into the past and various shared experiences of the North Texas region in order to shape our future through the present. Bridging disconnected communities, health advocacy, environmental sustainability, and urban transformation as a result of displacement and migration were some of the topics addressed in the biennial. 

Participants of the 2024 AURORA Biennial were a diverse group of emerging and renowned artists who experimented with sound, site-specificity, interactivity, and the digital. Through a unique, multi-sensory exhibition experience, they proposed new and varied perspectives on societal issues and engaged the audience in enriching conversations about our shared past, present, and future. Learn more about the AURORA Biennial and its history here. 

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LOCATION

The AURORA Biennial was presented in Downtown Dallas across an expansive urban footprint, centered on the iconic I.M. Pei-designed Dallas City Hall. This unique convergence of art, architecture, and technology continues to give prominence to Dallas’ standing as an international contemporary art destination.

“Our aim is to be a city-wide project that expands through and beyond the scope of downtown Dallas. By shifting the central exhibition footprint, the artist have a fresh canvas to work with, while bringing attention to an iconic public space in the city,” said AURORA Co-Founder Joshua King.

THEME

The AURORA Biennial was designed to create a welcoming space where people come together, leaving behind the divisions and conflicts of today's world. With the theme of FuturePresentPast, it reminded us that our shared humanity can help us overcome challenges. As cities rapidly change and we deal with political tension, post-pandemic uncertainty, and worries about the future—while still feeling nostalgic for the past—this event focused on how we can connect with each other. It revolved around bringing communities together, discussing important issues like health, the environment, and how cities are changing due to displacement and migration ... read more

CURATORS

Kendal Henry (New York City) is an artist and curator who has over 30 years of experience in the field of public art. Through his projects, he illustrates that public art can be used as a tool for social engagement, civic pride, and economic development ... read more

Leslie Moody Castro (Austin/Mexico City) is a writer and curator committed to expanding the world of visual arts across borders by initiating moments of international connections and conversations. She has dedicated her professional career to opening the doors between Mexico and Texas ... read more

> DOWNLOAD THE full AURORA 2024: FuturePresentPast map HERE <

FuturePresentPast  was made possible BY:

PAST WORLDS

To get a taste of past events, check out our AURORA 2018: Future Worlds trailer: