A Poetic Meditation on Interspecies Intelligence and Perception
With just ten days remaining, the 15th Shanghai Biennale is entering its final stretch at the Power Station of Art (PSA). Titled Does the Flower Hear the Bee?, this edition has emerged as one of the most thoughtful and quietly ambitious biennales of the 2025–2026 season.
Curated by Kitty Scott (former director of the Art Gallery of Ontario) together with co-curators Daisy Desrosiers, Xue Tan, Long Yitang, and Zhang Yingying, the exhibition draws its title from recent scientific discoveries showing that flowers can detect the sound frequency of bees’ wings and respond by increasing nectar production. This seemingly simple biological fact becomes a powerful metaphor for the biennale’s central inquiry: How do different forms of life perceive, communicate with, and respond to one another? 
Core Themes
The exhibition moves beyond traditional ecological art to explore interspecies intelligence, cross-species perception, alternative ways of knowing, and the limits of human-centered understanding. It brings together artistic, scientific, and philosophical perspectives, creating a contemplative space that encourages visitors to reconsider their relationship with the non-human world.
Rather than offering loud political statements, the biennale adopts a poetic, reflective, and almost meditative tone, something several critics have praised as refreshing in the current global climate.
Scale and Highlights
The 15th Shanghai Biennale features more than 250 works by 67 artists and collectives from China and across the globe. Notable participants include:
- Theaster Gates
- Haegue Yang
- Allora & Calzadilla
- Francis Alÿs
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- Masaomi Yasunaga
- Zhou Tao
- Xu Tiantian
- Jaffa Lam
- Brett Graham
- Shannon Te Ao
The exhibition places strong emphasis on material intelligence, sonic works, living systems, and site-responsive installations that engage with the industrial architecture of the Power Station of Art.
Critical Reception
Early reviews have been largely positive. ArtReview’s recent coverage (March 20, 2026) described the biennale as “elegant and restrained,” noting its success in creating “a space for not-knowing.” Several critics have highlighted the strong presence of Chinese artists and the sensitive integration of scientific concepts without falling into didacticism.
Final Days
The 15th Shanghai Biennale closes on March 31, 2026. Given its strong conceptual framework and high production values, many are calling it one of the standout international biennales of this cycle.
For those in Shanghai or planning a last-minute visit, the Power Station of Art remains open daily. This may be your final opportunity to experience what has been described as a gentle yet profound reflection on how we listen (and fail to listen) to the living world around us.
