Five curators appointed for Sharjah Biennial 16 with expansive, decentralized approach
For the sixteenth Sharjah Biennial, set to commence in February 2025 in the UAE, five curators have been appointed: Natasha Ginwala, Amal Khalaf, Zeynep Öz, Alia Swastika, and Megan Tamati-Quennell. Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi characterized this edition as broad and decentralized. Ginwala, who serves as the artistic director of COLOMBOSCOPE, has previously worked at Gropius Bau and the 13th Gwangju Biennale. Khalaf, the director of programmes at Cubitt and civic curator at Serpentine Galleries, curated the Bahrain Pavilion for the 58th Venice Biennale. Öz co-founded the Spot Production Fund and was involved in the off-site project for Sharjah Biennial 13. Swastika leads the Biennale Jogja Foundation, while Tamati-Quennell focuses on Māori and Indigenous art. Past curators include Suzanne Cotter and Rasha Salti.
Key facts
- Five curators appointed for Sharjah Biennial 16
- Biennial opens February 2025 in UAE
- Curators are Natasha Ginwala, Amal Khalaf, Zeynep Öz, Alia Swastika, Megan Tamati-Quennell
- Projects described as distinct but interconnected
- Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi leads Sharjah Art Foundation
- Edition billed as expansive and decentralized
- Previous curators include Suzanne Cotter, Rasha Salti, Yuko Hasegawa
- Ginwala was artistic director of 13th Gwangju Biennale 2021
Entities
Artists
- Natasha Ginwala
- Amal Khalaf
- Zeynep Öz
- Alia Swastika
- Megan Tamati-Quennell
- Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi
- Defne Ayas
- Suzanne Cotter
- Rasha Salti
- Yuko Hasegawa
- Adelita Husni-Bey
- Akinbode Akinbiyi
- Akira Ikezoe
- Alia Farid
- Brian Martin
- Cécile B. Evans
- Dian Suci Rahmawati
- Ipeh Nur
- Restu Ratnaningtyas
- Fatma Belkıs
- Hellen Ascoli
- Heman Chong
- Joe Namy
- Jorge González
- Kaloki Nyamai
- Kapulani Landgraf
- Kate Newby
- Mahmoud Khaled
- Michael Parekōwhai
- Mila Turajlić
- Mónica de Miranda
- Pallavi Paul
- Pratchaya Phinthong
- Rajni Perera
- Rossella Biscotti
- Saffronn Te Ratana
- Serapis Maritime
- Shivanjani Lal
- Stephanie Comilang
- Steven Yazzie
- Womanifesto
- Ximena Garrido-Lecca
- Yhonnie Scarce
Institutions
- Sharjah Art Foundation
- COLOMBOSCOPE
- Gropius Bau
- Gwangju Biennale
- Contour Biennale
- documenta
- Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art
- Taipei Biennial
- Cubitt
- Serpentine Galleries
- Venice Biennale
- Art Dubai
- Spot Production Fund
- Biennale Jogja Foundation
- Ark Galerie
Locations
- Sharjah
- United Arab Emirates
- Colombo
- Berlin
- Germany
- Gwangju
- South Korea
- London
- United Kingdom
- Venice
- Italy
- Bahrain
- Dubai
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- Yogyakarta
- Indonesia
- Sharjah City
- Al Hamriyah
- Al Dhaid
- Kalba
- Emirate of Sharjah
- New Zealand
- New York