Sharjah Biennial 11: Re:emerge, towards a new cultural cartography

The 11th Sharjah Biennial, curated by Yuko Hasegawa, opened on March 13, 2013, across multiple venues in Sharjah, including new spaces in the old medina. Titled "Re:emerge, towards a new cultural cartography," the biennial featured international artists, with a strong emphasis on video and performance art. Hasegawa drew inspiration from the medina's layout and Sheikh's map collection, including the travels of 13th-century historian Ibn Battuta. Notable works included Francis Alÿs's attempt to draw a human line across the Strait of Gibraltar, Shimabuku's boat trip through the port to view clandestine goods destined for Iran, and Tarek Atoui's drum performances. The exhibition was divided into four zones, showcasing established artists like Elizabeth Peyton, Matthew Barney, Gabriel Orozco, and Shilpa Gupta alongside emerging talents such as Sarah Abu Abdallah, Basir Mahmood, Wang Jianwei, and Sarah Ramo. Other highlights included Apichatpong Weerasethakul's film about a Pakistani migrant worker, Wael Shawky's "Al Araba al Madfuna," and Simon Fujiwara's "King-Kong Project." The Fine Arts Museum featured a dialogue between Arabic calligraphy by Hassan Massoudy and Japanese calligraphy by Yu-Ichi Inoue, with tapestries by Eduardo Terrazas. The biennial also included conferences (March Meetings), films, and performances, with the opening week featuring Tarek Atoui's drums and Pakistani singers performing texts on curatorial practices and censorship in Urdu to Sufi music.