Sharjah Biennial 13 announces yearlong program with dual exhibitions in Sharjah and Beirut

The Sharjah Foundation has revealed plans for the 13th Sharjah Biennial, curated by Christine Tohme, founder of Ashkal Alwan (the Lebanese Association for the Plastic Arts). Titled 'Tamawuj'—Arabic for wave-like undulation—the biennial will explore possibilities for regional artworld development through extensive programming across multiple cities. The core exhibition unfolds in two acts: Act I runs from March to June 2017 in Sharjah, while Act II concludes in Beirut in October 2017. Four 'interlocutors' will curate projects from different cities: Kader Attia in Dakar, Senegal (January 2017); Zeynep Oz in Istanbul, Turkey (May 2017); Lara Khaldi in Ramallah, Palestine (August 2017); and Ashkal Alwan in Beirut, Lebanon (October 2017). A yearlong publishing platform launches on 15 October 2016, hosting research materials, articles, essays, and images. An educational program will support local infrastructure across Sharjah's western, central, and eastern regions starting in October. The opening week from 10–14 March 2017 features performances, film screenings, and the 10th annual March Meeting. The announcement was made on 28 September 2016.