Sharjah Biennial 11 Explores Arabian Peninsula as Cultural Courtyard with Site-Specific Commissions

The Sharjah Biennial 11, curated by Yuko Hasegawa, opened on 13 March and runs until 13 May. Hasegawa conceptualized the Arabian Peninsula as a courtyard-like nexus between East and West, fostering cultural exchange and dialogue between public and private spheres. This thematic framework prompted the commissioning of 24 artists and practitioners to create site-specific artworks that investigate cultural complexity, societal diversity, and political relations. All commissioned projects are produced by the Sharjah Art Foundation. The biennial's press materials trace a microhistory of globalization, referencing historical contexts from Ancient Rome and the Mughal Empire to the Silk Road's eastern terminus and Mediterranean coastal connections to Africa. The event emphasizes generating new forms of dialogue through art.